My Alerts
Photo ID OPUS cards
photo sessions planned for Montréal schools
Montréal, August 20, 2009 – Photo ID OPUS cards are required for students who want to purchase transit fares and pay the reduced fare when using public transportation. Once again this year, the STM is planning to visit Montréal schools to enable students to renew their reduced fare privilege and to issue new OPUS cards to those who do not already have one. Photo sessions will begin August 24 and continue until the end of October. WHEN, WHERE AND HOW TO RENEW ONE’S FARE PRIVILEGE
Students (12 - 17 years old and 18 - 25 years old) who already have an OPUS card must renew their fare privilege (for one year) before October 31, 2009, when the photo session is held at their school or college. To find out when this session will take place, students are invited to consult the STM website. Students 12 - 17 years old must present their OPUS card and pay $9 for administrative fees. Students 18 - 25 years old must present their OPUS card and provide proof of full-time school attendance delivered by an establishment recognized by the ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport du Québec (MELS). They can use the proof of full-time school attendance, available at www.stm.info, and signed by a school representative, or bring their class schedule stamped with official school seal. They must also pay $9 for administrative fees. WHEN, WHERE AND HOW TO OBTAIN ONE’S FIRST OPUS CARD
Students (12 - 17 years old and 18 - 25 years old) who do not have an OPUS card must obtain theirs before October 31, 2009, when the photo session is held at their school or college. To find out when this session will take place, students are invited to consult the STM website. Students 12 - 17 years old must present:
- Registration form (available at www.stm.info ) signed by parental authority if student is under the age of 14.
- Proof of age (healthcare card, student card, etc.)
- Proof of Montréal residence (property tax bill, Bell or Hydro-Québec invoice in their name and for their address, driver’s license, or official document from academic establishment bearing student’s address).
- Registration form (available at www.stm.info );
- Proof of age (healthcare card, student card, etc.) showing they are still under 26 by October 31, 2009;
- Proof of full-time school attendance delivered by an establishment recognized by the ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport du Québec (MELS). They can use the Proof of full-time school attendance, available at www.stm.info, and signed by a school representative, or bring their class schedule stamped with official school seal.
DURATION OF FARE PRIVILEGE
Although the OPUS card is valid for a two-year period, the fare privilege is only valid for the current school year, making it necessary to renew it at the start of the school year. For those who already have an OPUS card, their fare privilege ends on October 31. After that, if they have not renewed their privilege, they will no longer be able to purchase reduced transit fares. HOW TO PAY THE REDUCED FARE, PRIOR TO OR FOLLOWING THE SCHOOL PHOTO SESSION ?
Before the session is held
However, students who do not already have one (for example, when starting high school) and who want to pay the reduced fare as soon as they start school (not always possible if the photo session is scheduled for later) can go to SPEQ Photo 2020 University, McGill métro station to have their picture taken and obtain their OPUS card upon presenting the required documents (see list above or at www.stm.info). Parents can also purchase an OPUS card for them for $3.50 and load it with 10 trips for $20 (paying a $1.75 cash fare is no longer an option for students 12 – 25 years old) until the photo session is held at their child’s school. After the session is held
Students who miss the photo session at school can still obtain their OPUS card by going to SPEQ Photo, at McGill métro station, but it will cost them slightly more, at $13.75 ($3.50 for the OPUS card but $10.25 for administrative fees). HOW TO PURCHASE TRANSIT FARES ONCE THE CARD IS ISSUED ?
Thanks to the new system, students can recharge their transit smartcard in métro stations (with fare controller or through automatic fare vending machines), and from authorized retail outlets (see list at www.stm.info ). WHAT HAPPENS IF THE CARD IS LOST OR STOLEN ?
Because OPUS cards are registered, the transit fares they contain can be recovered by their owners, if their card is lost or stolen. If that happens, cardholders must go to SPEQ Photo, as soon as possible, located at 2020 University (McGill métro station). The lost or stolen card will be invalidated in the system, making it unusable by anyone else. A new card loaded with the fares that remained at the time the card was reported lost or stolen will then be issued. Proof of identity will be required, as well as a fee of $13.75. WHAT HAPPENS IF THE CARD IS DAMAGED OR DEFECTIVE ?
Students are invited to go to SPEQ Photo, 2020 University (McGill station) to have it replaced. PHOTO ID OPUS CARD: PERSONAL AND NON-TRANSFERABLE
Lastly, photo ID OPUS cards are personal and non-transferable. If a card was lent to someone elsea or obtained by fraudulent means, it will be confiscated and the reduced fare privilege will be withdrawn. Moreover, anyone who disregards transit fare regulations is subject to a fine of up to $500. – 30 –
