This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Re "UTA to monthly pass holders: Help us or we may fine you" (Tribune, April 4):
For five years, I've been a (mostly) happy rider of Utah Transit Authority buses and trains. Now UTA has embedded chips in its monthly passes and is asking users to tap on and tap off each time they enter and exit, all to get research data.
Tapping on and off is not a heavy burden, and obtaining tracking data benefits UTA and improves its planning. However, the $157-$304 fines for monthly pass holders who do not tap on and off are completely unreasonable.
Consider the fine for not wearing a seat belt — $45. This offense puts at risk the lives of the individual and others. Failing to tap carries no risk to the public, yet its fine is three times greater!
A modest $15 fine would have the same effect and would not place such an onerous burden on often inadvertent violators (it is easy to forget to tap with the rush of people around you).
How should we effectively protest this abuse of power?
Stephen Piccolo
Lehi