By law, you are required to validate your Metcard upon entering a station designated area, commencing a journey or entering a vehicle that has operational validators on board.

There is no intention to fine people travelling with a previously validated ticket for not re-validating; however, you are strongly encouraged to do so as validation allows us to determine passenger travelling needs and helps identify where extra services may be required.

Information about paying and appealing ticket infringements and fines is available at the Department of Transport website (opens in new window).

Authorised Officers are employed by public transport operators (train, tram and bus) to ensure that passengers comply with ticketing and behavioural requirements while travelling on or using public transport services and facilities. Authorised Officers also perform a range of roles beyond just checking tickets, including improving passenger safety, providing information and assisting at special events. Authorised Officers are trained in all aspects of the appropriate transport laws.

A brochure outlining the powers of Authorised Officers is also available for download via the following link:

Authorised Officers employed by Connex are also referred to as Customer Service Officers.

Authorised Officers employed by Yarra Trams are also referred to as Revenue Protection Officers.

Yes. To exercise their powers, Authorised Officers must first be accredited by the Director of Public Transport and have the authority, under the Transport Act, to ask you to produce a valid Metcard for your journey. Once they are accredited, Authorised Officers carry authority certificates displaying photo ID and badges to confirm their authority. They have the power to ask you to show your Metcard on all public transport premises and vehicles including when you have just left a public transport vehicle or premises.

Yes - Authorised Officers have the power to ask to see your Metcard after you have just left a vehicle or premises.

Under the Transport Act, you are required to produce a valid Metcard on demand. If you do not have a valid Metcard or you refuse to show your Metcard, Authorised Officers have the authority to:

• ask for your name and address
• ask you to produce documents confirming that the information given is correct
• arrest you and keep you under arrest for the length of time it takes to obtain such information
• arrest you if you refuse to give your name and address, or give a false name and address.

If you do not cooperate with requests from Authorised Officers in the exercise of their powers under the Transport Act, you may be arrested and held until the arrival of police.

If the matter cannot be resolved, then police may arrest you and the matter may go before the Magistrates' Court or the Children's Court.

Yes. Authorised Officers have the authority to request your name and address. If an Authorised Officer reasonably believes you are in breach of the Transport Act, you are required by law to give your correct name and address when requested to do so by an Authorised Officer. Authorised Officers can also ask for proof that these details are correct.

Yes. If you produce a Metcard that is not valid for a particular journey, or you produce a faulty Metcard, the matter must be reported. The Metcard is taken as evidence and will be produced in Court if required. This can only occur if the Metcard is confiscated by an Authorised Officer at the time of the offence.

All Metcards purchased for travel on Melbourne's public transport remain the property of the passenger transport company at all times.

If your confiscated Metcard has un-used valid journeys, you can apply to the Department of Transport to have the Metcard returned once the report is finalised and the fine has been paid. To apply, contact:

Transport Infringement Administration
Department of Transport
Level 6, Nauru House
80 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Telephone: 1300 135 066

If an Authorised Officer confiscates your Metcard, you will receive a Travel Permit to enable you to complete your journey. However, next time you travel, you will have to purchase a valid Metcard.

It is your responsibility to ensure you have a valid Metcard for your journey.
If you have not pre-purchased your Metcard, you must have enough change to purchase a Metcard from the coin-only Metcard machines on board trams.
If you do not have change to purchase a Metcard on board the tram, you must alight immediately or you will be reported if checked by an Authorised Officer.

The easiest way to travel is by pre-purchasing your Metcard. You can purchase Metcards from any retail outlet displaying the blue Metcard sign. You can also buy Metcards at the MetShop (located at the Melbourne Town Hall), by phone (1800 652 313) or online. By purchasing Metcards such as 10 x 2 hour or 5 x Daily Metcards you can save money.

Authorised Officers do not issue infringement notices or fines to passengers. Instead, a report outlining the situation is submitted to the Department of Transport (DOT), which determines whether the matter should proceed further.

If further action is decided, an infringement notice will be issued by the DOT.

The Authorised Officer has no further involvement unless the matter goes to Court. The money from the fine goes directly to the Government, except for a small administration fee which is retained by the operator.

Under the Transport Act, you may be charged with hindrance if you intervene while another passenger is being reported. Often you may see only a small part of an incident. If you want to complain about the behaviour of an Authorised Officer, you can do so by calling the customer feedback number below.

Physical assaults on staff will not be tolerated. Any person assaulting staff will be prosecuted.

Customer feedback lines are in place to accept complaints; however, please understand that reported matters will not be withdrawn simply because you are annoyed or angry about being reported.

Yarra Trams - 1800 800 166 (6am-10pm daily)

Connex - 1800 800 705 (6am-10pm daily)

For buses, contact the bus company on which you travelled, or call Metlink on 131 638 (6am-10pm daily)

To obtain a copy of the Transport Act and Regulations (Transport Act, 1983, number 9921), please contact:

Information Victoria
356 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Telephone: 1300 366 356
Or visit the website at www.dms.dpc.vic.gov.au (opens in new window)

Transport Infringement Administration
Department of Transport
PO Box 2797
Melbourne VIC 3001
Phone: 1300 135 066