Checking Tickets on Public Transit

The ticket checkers were out in force yesterday and today. That happens from time to time. There are two issues, do they do spot checks; yes and its so random, there is never a way of knowing where or when. Sometimes I see them at every stop, sometimes I go for a week and never see one.

The second question is do they let old looking folks like me through without question. Typically, as I approach the ticket checker I smile and say “jó napot” and they nod their head and I keep walking. On an average day I do that 2 to 4 times.

In the last three years on the trams or at the metro entrances, I have not been asked to produce anything. On maybe three occasions I couldn’t judge if I was going to be let through based on looks and my ja napot so I have pulled out my wallet with a clear front under which is my ID, but in all of those cases no one looked, I was just waved through. The exception to all of this is the 100E Express Bus to and from the Airport. They always want to see my ID, but never actually try and read it.

THEN CAME TODAY, thank you Andrea … you cursed it. 🤣🤣🤣I walked down to the M1, saw them checking, said, “jó napot” to which he replied “jó napot” and I continued walking … very politely, with a big smile and lots of loving arm gestures he asked something long and complicated in Hungarian. I just guessed it was for the ID, so I pulled out my wallet with the clear top under which is my Global Entry card. I handed it to him (my wallet full of cash and credit cards); he pretended to find the birth date in the ID style you know he had never seen before in his life and within 2 seconds handed it back. Then more smiles and laughing statements as he shrugged his shoulders almost in embarrassment. I think if I were two steps closer, he would have hugged me. It made me happy to live here.

Maybe checking old folks is a change in policy. We will see.

Now, I have traveled with another RS type who is older than me (sorry, I said that) and “that person” (I won’t rat out if she is a he or a she) is carded often. At times with me sitting next to her and allowed to pass with no question for my ID. I guess “that person” just looks that young.

Do know that any ID with a birthdate and photo will work. The original, not a copy. Do know that it could be requested at any time. I have noticed that over the last several years that the metro cops must have gone through sensitivity training and they are polite, almost to a fault; BUT you will have to pay the fine if you can’t show your age or if you don’t have a ticket. They will stay with you, talk with you, laugh with you and cry with you … until you pay (or accept the ticket and pay even more later). If you choose not to pay on the spot, might be a good idea to have your passport (it is law to carry it). The fine is 15.000 if paid on the spot (close to $50) and 30.000 to 50.000 if you chose to pay it later. Yes, they take credit cards LOL.

Thanks Mr E. I have a cousin who lives in Germany in a large city without a car. She rides trams and buses often. About 10 years ago when I was visiting her we got on a tram and I was looking for money to pay for my ticket. She told me not to worry about it because they hardly check and an occasional fine is less expensive than buying tickets each time. I was not going to take any chances so not only did I buy tickets for myself I bought them for her as well. I’m not worried about myself in Budapest because I always have ID on me. If my husband didn’t have a ticket it would have been another story.