West Yorkshire Police warn travellers over fake metro passes
Bus passengers in West Yorkshire are risking fines and a criminal record if they use fake travel passes, police have warned.
Safer Travel West Yorkshire said several fakes had been discovered recently.
West Yorkshire Police are now conducting spot-checks on buses across the the county to try to take the fakes out of circulation.
Anyone caught using a fake pass risks a fine of up to £350 for fare-dodging.
All the passes discovered are month-long purple Metro cards and bear the same ticket number, 46373 4664E78.
They have been discovered in the Leeds, Wakefield and Kirklees districts and had been sold at bus stations and shopping centres.
Sergeant Rachel Claughton, Safer Travel West Yorkshire's dedicated police officer, said: "Anyone who is found in possession of one is these passes faces an immediate £50 fine at the very least and could face paying £350 if it went to court."
All metro passes and cards are non-transferable and must be bought at an official Metro ticket office.