crime and punishment

Turnstile Jumping Reportedly Now One of the Most Popular Ways to Get Thrown in Jail

Photo: Ramin Talaie/Bloomberg via Getty Images

You forgot to refill your monthly Metrocard, the line for the machines is full of tourists fumbling with their wallets, and you’re going to be late to work. You have two choices: Wait in the line and risk getting tsk-tsked by the boss, or sneak through the emergency exit gate when it’s opened from the other side. What do you do? If you choose the latter option, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll get arrested. According to the Daily News, arrests for fare evasion have increased 69 percent since 2008, from 14,681 to 24,747 in 2013. Fare-beaters can then be legally searched and cops can check to see if they have any open warrants. Convenient, huh?

More and More Turnstile Jumpers Getting Jailed