MTA chairman defends hands-off approach to enforce Cuomo’s $50 mask fine

MTA Chairman Pat Foye on Tuesday defended his agency’s light touch in enforcing Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s $50 mask fine.

MTA cops have fined just 10 straphangers in two months for refusing to mask up, Foye told reporters at a press conference in Lower Manhattan. The NYPD said it has issued an additional five.

But Foye claimed the hands-off approach has worked, noting that recent surveys by the agency showed 95 percent of people on mass transit have a mask.

“When an MTA employee enters a car, or police officer — NYPD or MTA police — someone not wearing a mask who has one will put it on. They’ll adjust it accordingly,” he said.

“Our goal is not to raise revenue or to issue summonses. Our goal is to have people wear the mask appropriately.”

Still, Foye conceded that “10 percent or below” of those who have masks on transit aren’t actually wearing them properly.

Foye spoke at a press conference with transit leaders from Pennsylvania and New Jersey to announce an inter-state effort to distribute “millions” of masks on public transportation.

But asked what they planned to do about the straphangers who just leave them tucked under their chins or hanging off their ears, Foye only emphasized the high levels of compliance. He also insisted the MTA is getting the word out.

“Signage in the subways has the message, ‘You gotta wear a mask, there’s a fine if you don’t, and here’s how to wear it correctly,’ and we’re also incredibly active on social media getting the message out,” he said.

Cuomo’s MTA mask fine began on Sept. 14.

Meanwhile, the Port Authority, which began issuing fines for mask non-compliance at its airports and bus terminals on Nov. 1, has given out five tickets, a rep said.