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Public Transport Fines Surge

City Hall boosted fines for fare dodging on public transportation from 100 rubles to 1,000 rubles ($3.50 to $35) starting Monday, Govorit Moskva radio said.

Ticket collectors are banned from levying the fine at the scene. Fare dodgers, who will have to provide passport details to ticket inspectors, will be expected to pay through a bank. Those who don't can be taken to court.

Meanwhile, about 80 people rallied in central Moscow on Sunday against the high cost of public transportation, Interfax reported.

In February, the Audit Chamber questioned ticket price increases on Moscow's public transportation, an annual tradition, and said the city's transportation officials misspent $7.3 billion between 2008 and 2010.

(MT)

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