Tube passengers caught not wearing a mask owe TfL £142,000 in fines

Tube passengers fined for not wearing masks on London’s transport network still owe Transport for London (TfL) an estimated £142,000 in unpaid fines.

New data from City Hall has revealed that there are 710 unpaid fines.

City Hall figures revealed nearly 4,000 passengers were issued with fines when masks were mandatory.

The fines were reduced to £100 if paid within 14 days.

Of the 710 unpaid fines, 532 are currently being prosecuted or letters have been sent out reminding people to pay the fine.

A further 178 cases are currently open and remain unpaid and awaiting prosecution, the mayor of London has said.

He added: "As all of the cases have passed the 14-day period, they will be valued at £200.

"Therefore, TfL estimates the total outstanding value is £142,000."

Compulsory face coverings were put in place to stop the spread of coronavirus but the mandate was dropped in February this year.

Some 7,283 people were stopped on TfL’s network for not wearing a mask during the pandemic, City Hall said, and 2,325 were told to leave the network.

Of the 3,996 issued fines, the majority paid up within the 14-day time period.

“The safety of Transport for London’s (TfL’s) customers and staff is always its top priority,” said Sadiq Khan.

“A range of measures helped to ensure customers can travel safely and confidently on TfL’s services during the pandemic, including requiring face coverings as a condition of carriage both before and after they were a legal requirement, and continuing to strongly encourage them today.”