tim..... wrote on Mon, 4 Mar 2013

"Roland Perry" wrote in message
...
In message , at 13:06:44 on
Mon, 4 Mar 2013, Basil Jet remarked:
Now how such a check can be done a tube or train when CBC acceptance
is extended - that is a definite challenge!

Is a new handheld device capable of reading such cards not possible?

Reading the cards isn't a problem. What the gripper needs to know is
whether it was used "recently" to enter the system. Paywave cards don't
store transaction history on them, so you'd need to be in contact with
the bank's back-office systems.

Only if you wanted to arrest the person on the spot. If you have
their bank account details and the time, you can work out at the end
of the day whether they need to be summoned to court.

You don't want to arrest them, rather than charge a penalty fare. So
will there be a regime where the gripper takes a "swipe" from every
such card offered, and then a post-processing of the penalty for all
those where the card was either not swiped in originally, or the
swipe-in was not properly registered?

Given that this is based upon wireless technology, there must be some
scope for this information getting lost.

I can't believe that retrospectively fining people because the gripper
says that you were on the train but your bank account details don't
show that you have paid, is going to stand up to expert court scrutiny.

Wouldn't you need to show at least that the system provides adequate
feedback to the passenger at the time of swiping that a transaction has
been provisionally accepted, and has a record of the acceptance? Will
the innovation provide this?
--
Iain Archer