Muni fare gate glitch

San Francisco's Municipal Railway System spent $30 million on a new fare gate system that lets you wave your hand to enter, no fare required. That wasn't the intention, but that's how it works.

The short-term solution to deal with the glitch? Stepped-up enforcement by Muni's transit-fare inspectors and police to catch the fare cheats. The offense carries a $75 fine.

Yeah, right.

As someone who rides transit all the time, I can tell you what will happen. Violators will figure out which stations are least patrolled, and they'll enter there. Even if an agent is on duty, you can bet he or she won't risk his or her neck to stop a gang of teens waving their hands at the exit sensors.

Or that gang will just keep using the "authorized-personnel-only" gates as they do now.