CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Charlotte City Council is beefing up fare enforcement on CATS light rail trains. They approved a three-year program to hire fare inspectors called “ambassadors” who will check to make sure tickets are paid. The city says the ambassadors will wear uniforms and approach ride rs in non-confrontational ways. The program is expected to cost around $5 million a year. In April, CATS leadership said it loses about $3 – $5 million a year due to fare evasion, with about 50 percent of people not paying to ride the bus or light rail. The changes come after the stabbing death of Iryna Zarutska last year. and other violence on light rail trains. ...read more read less