In an effort to reduce the number of assaults on its bus drivers, TransLink has made all its buses fare paid zones, effective Monday.

The new system takes away from transit bus drivers the responsibility for ensuring that riders have paid. Fares will now be enforced by officers who ask riders for passes or transfers, the same system that is already used on the SkyTrain.

Passengers who can't produce a valid transfer or pass on request face a $173 fine.

The change applies to all TransLink buses — Coast Mountain Bus, West Vancouver Municipal Transportation and Community Shuttles.

The company hopes to reduce the risk to its drivers from confrontations over fares.

Coquitlam bus driver Renee Bourdin was beaten unconscious during such a confrontation in May 2006. He's been off work since.

"I don't think I can ever go back," Bourdin told CBC Radio. "I have difficulty looking at a bus."

While Bourdin's assault was particularly violent, 136 bus drivers have been assaulted so far this year, said Rick Claybo, the bus company's assault analysis and prevention specialist.

"Probably 35 per cent of the assaults were directly related to a fare dispute," said Rick Claybo, the bus company's assault analysis and prevention specialist.

"So what we're hoping is that the fare paid zone will decrease the number of confrontations at the fare box," he said.

Under the new rule, bus drivers are no longer responsible for ensuring fares have been paid. They will still take payment at the fare box and issue transfers, but they won't challenge riders who don't pay when boarding.

Jim Houlahan, vice-president of CAW local 111, said he hopes the new system improves driver safety.

But he said more needs to be done, such as installing cameras on all city buses by this time next year, and stiffer penalties for those passengers who turn a simple fare disagreement into a violent assault.