WASHINGTON (AP) - Virginia Railway Express is cracking down on passengers who evade paying fares before boarding commuter trains.

Continue reading

VRE spokesman Mark Roeber tells The Washington Post that VRE loses as much as $120,000 a year to people who evade fares. Passenger fares make up more than 60 percent of VRE's revenue.

Riders are required to have their tickets stamped with the time and date at kiosks but can openly board trains.

Cheryl Rouland says she received a $100 fine for fare evasion shortly after moving to the area. She says she bought a round-trip ticket but didn't know she had to get the afternoon portion validated. She fought the fine in court but lost.

The crackdown began shortly after VRE dropped Amtrak and hired Keolis Rail Services to operate its trains.