Latest news with #JasonWeinstein
San Francisco Chronicle
27 minutes ago
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Starting this week, BART will take credit cards — here's what to know
Bay Area Rapid Transit riders will soon be able to pay fares the same way they shop at the grocery store — by tapping a credit or debit card. Starting Wednesday, BART is rolling out 'open payments,' allowing passengers to use Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover or mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay at BART fare gates. The gates previously accepted only plastic and digital Clipper cards, the all-in-one payment card for many Bay Area transit systems. The change is part of the long-awaited Clipper 2.0 upgrade, which has faced repeated delays. 'This rollout is designed to have the most impact for the most people,' said Jason Weinstein, director of the Clipper program at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, at a July meeting. 'We decided to start with BART.' The way it works is simple: Tap your card or mobile wallet when entering a station, then tap the same card again when exiting. For now, the feature is limited to BART, with other Bay Area transit agencies — including Muni, Caltrain and AC Transit — expected to follow in the coming months. Officials hope the change will make transit easier for visitors and occasional riders, especially those traveling directly from airports. Discount programs for youths, seniors, low-income riders and people with disabilities will still require a Clipper card or the Clipper mobile app. Riders are also urged to avoid ' card clash,' which can happen if the fare reader detects multiple cards in a wallet. To prevent errors, passengers should tap one card at a time or set a default card in their phone's wallet app. The shift brings BART closer to systems in New York and London, where contactless payments have already become standard. When does it start? Wednesday, Aug. 20. Which cards work? Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, plus Apple Pay and Google Pay with a phone or watch. Clipper cards will also continue to be accepted. Not yet. Contactless payments will expand to other agencies later. How do I use it? What is 'card clash'? When the reader detects more than one card. To avoid it, tap a single card or set a default card on your phone.
CBS News
5 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
BART fare gates will soon accept credit and debit cards. Here's what to know
People taking BART will soon be able to use their credit or debit cards at the fare gates, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. The tap-to-pay feature launches the week of Aug. 18, according to the Clipper Executive Board. Valid cards include Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover. Payment options also include Apple Pay or Google Pay with a phone or watch. With the rollout of the new feature, there are some possible issues people with Clipper cards could face, such as "card clash." Jason Weinstein, the director of Clipper at MTC, explained during a July 28 meeting that card clash happens when a Clipper reader detects more than one card. How to avoid card clash depends on whether people use a physical Clipper card or a digital wallet. People with a plastic Clipper card should remove it from their wallet or purse to avoid the fare gate reader from detecting other cards. For those using an Android phone, the reader will charge the Clipper card first, Weinstein said. Apple's iPhone users can adjust the "express transit card" option in the wallet app to select which card is used. If the express transit card option is on for Clipper, the BART's fare gate reader will choose Clipper even if you have open payments on, Weinstein said. To use a credit or debit card instead, iPhone users can turn off the express transit card option for Clipper. During the meeting, Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District general manager Denis Mulligan voiced possible issues over tap-to-pay only being allowed on BART. Mulligan said BART passengers who transfer to a bus or other systems will still need to have a Clipper card, and credit card users wouldn't get their normal discount if they switch to Clipper for the transfer. The new payment feature is designed for BART riders connecting from an airport or for infrequent riders. Weinstein said another possible advantage would be cutting down on how many plastic cards are needed. There are plans for the credit card payment feature to be rolled out to other Bay Area public transit systems.
San Francisco Chronicle
5 days ago
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
BART riders will soon be able to pay by tapping a credit card. Here's when
After a long wait, BART commuters can finally pay for rides the same way they pay for literally everything else: by tapping a debit or credit card at the gate. Next week, the regional rail system will introduce a new 'contactless' payment method that policymakers have discussed for years. The open payments that launch at BART Wednesday morning which will eventually be made available on all Bay Area transit systems that use Clipper. 'After evaluating the benefits and considerations, it was decided that we'd try to roll out open payments at one operator, and that the most impactful rollout could be at BART,' said Jason Weinstein, Clipper program director for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, during a presentation to the commission's Clipper Executive Board on July 28. Staff at MTC have been field testing these new card payments since June, ensuring that chip-enabled cards work at fare gates and that BART's payment portals integrate with people's bank accounts. Originally set to begin last year, the transition to contactless fares took much longer to implement, as it turned out to be more technical and complex than planners originally thought. Transit riders in London and New York already enjoy contactless card payments, a perk that saves people the trouble of buying a plastic Clipper card at station vending machines. Officials hope the debit and credit card option will be particularly helpful for tourists who might not be familiar with Clipper, and who in the past may have loaded a Clipper card with money only to throw it away when they leave the Bay Area. However, launching the open payment system at only one operator has drawbacks. A visitor to the Bay Area who uses a credit card to take BART from San Francisco Airport to Powell Street station may wind up buying a Clipper card anyway, in order to ride the cable car. Open payments could present other complications such as 'card clash,' when reader devices at fare gates detect more than one type of card, and get confused, Weinstein said. Riders can avoid this problem by taking their cards out of their wallets to tap in.
Perth Now
22-05-2025
- Perth Now
Insiders used to import 6kg cocaine
A man allegedly caught collecting 6kg of cocaine from an international commercial flight in Sydney told police his suitcase was filled with plaster. A foreign law enforcement agency tipped off police in January about trusted insiders being used by a drug trafficking syndicate to hide cocaine on international commercial flights destined for Australia. Six kilograms of cocaine was allegedly found concealed in 1kg packages that had been wrapped in duct tape on a flight searched by Australian Border Force officers on March 17. Police were tipped off by foreign law enforcement agencies about trusted insiders who were being used to traffic cocaine into Australia on commercial flights. NSW Police Credit: Supplied A Multi Agency Strike Team (MAST) allegedly saw a 23-year-old man from Narara collect the cocaine and travel to Gosford where he was stopped by police. He allegedly told officers his suitcase contained plaster. He was charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of cocaine and unlawfully import a border controlled drug. Police allege another 34-year old man from Hardys Bay near Gosford was the mastermind behind the failed plot. He was stopped by police near Kempsey on March 27 and charged with unlawfully importing cocaine which carries a penalty of life imprisonment. Two men from The Central Coast have been charged over an alleged foiled plot to import 6kg of cocaine on an international commercial flight into Sydney. NSW Police Credit: Supplied Both men are in custody and are due to appear before the courts over the coming weeks. The MAST is focused on targeting contractors, or public or private officials, who are on the payroll of organised crime. Known as trusted insiders, these employees unlawfully access information such as security or operational details, or use subterfuge, to help organised crime. AFP Assistant Commissioner Stephen Dametto said the strike team was committed to identifying criminals who used trusted insiders to enable the flow of illegal drugs, such as cocaine, into Australia. 'Criminals are motivated by greed and will use any means to import harmful drugs into Australia to make a profit, at the expense of Australians and their health,' he said. Two men from NSW have been charged over an alleged foiled plot to import cocaine on commercial flights from overseas. NSW Police Credit: Supplied 'Illicit drugs cause immense harm to users and their families and make our communities less safe. 'No matter how elaborate or creative the attempts are, the AFP and our partners are working tirelessly to prevent airports and aircraft being used by trusted insiders as part of the criminal supply chain.' NSW Police State Crime Command Acting Assistant Commissioner Jason Weinstein said trusted insiders played a pivotal role in the illicit drug supply chain. 'These individuals abuse their positions to facilitate criminal activity and targeting them through MAST is essential to protecting our communities from the scourge of drugs,' he said.
West Australian
22-05-2025
- West Australian
Trusted insiders allegedly used in foiled plot to smuggle 6kg of cocaine into Sydney on international commercial flights
A man allegedly caught collecting 6kg of cocaine from an international commercial flight in Sydney told police his suitcase was filled with plaster. A foreign law enforcement agency tipped off police in January about trusted insiders being used by a drug trafficking syndicate to hide cocaine on international commercial flights destined for Australia. Six kilograms of cocaine was allegedly found concealed in 1kg packages that had been wrapped in duct tape on a flight searched by Australian Border Force officers on March 17. A Multi Agency Strike Team (MAST) allegedly saw a 23-year-old man from Narara collect the cocaine and travel to Gosford where he was stopped by police. He allegedly told officers his suitcase contained plaster. He was charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of cocaine and unlawfully import a border controlled drug. Police allege another 34-year old man from Hardys Bay near Gosford was the mastermind behind the failed plot. He was stopped by police near Kempsey on March 27 and charged with unlawfully importing cocaine which carries a penalty of life imprisonment. Both men are in custody and are due to appear before the courts over the coming weeks. The MAST is focused on targeting contractors, or public or private officials, who are on the payroll of organised crime. Known as trusted insiders, these employees unlawfully access information such as security or operational details, or use subterfuge, to help organised crime. AFP Assistant Commissioner Stephen Dametto said the strike team was committed to identifying criminals who used trusted insiders to enable the flow of illegal drugs, such as cocaine, into Australia. 'Criminals are motivated by greed and will use any means to import harmful drugs into Australia to make a profit, at the expense of Australians and their health,' he said. 'Illicit drugs cause immense harm to users and their families and make our communities less safe. 'No matter how elaborate or creative the attempts are, the AFP and our partners are working tirelessly to prevent airports and aircraft being used by trusted insiders as part of the criminal supply chain.' NSW Police State Crime Command Acting Assistant Commissioner Jason Weinstein said trusted insiders played a pivotal role in the illicit drug supply chain. 'These individuals abuse their positions to facilitate criminal activity and targeting them through MAST is essential to protecting our communities from the scourge of drugs,' he said.
