TICKET inspectors will “certainly” not be permitted to carry guns should a plan for them to carry cash from on-the-spot fines be approved, Transport Minister Terry Mulder says.

The Herald Sun revealed today that some authorised officers want guns and capsicum spray for protection amid a bitter war over the new “cash-cops” that could lead to the city’s public transport system grinding to a halt.

Shoud ticket inspectors be allowed to carry guns? Have your say below.

The government is remaining firm on its scheme that will allow fare evaders to pay a cheaper on-the-spot fine of $75 by cash or credit or debit card, rather than the full $212 infringement.

Mr Mulder said the vast majority of people would use credit or debit cards to pay the on-the-spot fines, so inspectors would only be carrying a small amount of cash.

“The amount of cash they would be carrying would be absolute minimal,” he told 3AW this morning.

“The whole amount of cash carried would have to be totally and completely audited, and they would hand it over as soon as they get to a premium station, or wherever they’re heading.

“Certainly I can assure you of this, authorised officers will not be carrying guns. It’s not on.”

Mr Mulder said officers also travelled in groups to ensure their safety.

But Rail, Tram and Bus Union state secretary Luba Grigorovitch said the State Government was “treating our members with contempt” with the cash-cops plan by forcing them to potentially carry hundreds of dollars while on duty.

Ms Grigorovitch said ticket inspectors doled out as many as 10 fines a day to fare evaders, meaning they could be holding up to $750 by the end of a shift if $75 on-the-spot fines are implemented.

She said the union and its members supported on-the-spot fines, but wanted money to be collected only via card payment as it was safer for inspectors and more practical for those paying the fines — a proposal rejected by the government.

“They want to proceed with cash,” she said.

“They want to put our (authorised officers) in harm’s way.

“We believe it is unacceptable to expect them to walk around on trains and trams with wads of cash in their pockets.”

Ms Grigorovitch said the push for ticket inspectors to carry guns had not come from the union.

A senior transport source told the Herald Sun that union members had already started plotting how they would derail the system unless the cash option was removed.

Ms Grigorovitch said illegal industrial action was not sanctioned by the union.

PTV spokesman Adrian Darwent said further consultation would be held with the union.

aleks.devic@news.com.au