Vic QC to challenge Myki fines

A prominent Melbourne barrister has put together a taskforce of lawyers to fight Public Transport Victoria over its Myki fine "standover racket".

The team of volunteer lawyers has been gathered by Julian Burnside QC and will help travellers contest public transport fines in courts around Melbourne over the next month.

Mr Burnside says PTV rejects reasonable excuses from commuters who have been fined for not having a valid ticket, only to have the case dropped later by prosecutors in court.

"If the same facts cause the case to be withdrawn but putting those facts in a letter doesn't stop them from charging you, something is clearly wrong with the way the system works," Mr Burnside told ABC Radio.

He's described PTV's $75 on the spot fine option as a "standover racket".

In one case a man represented himself and had his fine overturned after a magistrate determined he took all reasonable steps to ensure his ticket was valid.

Mr Burnside said that was all the law required.

"If they've done everything reasonable to have a valid ticket when they travel on the system I think they should try and stand their ground," he said.

"Quite a lot of people have a valid defence and PTV try and bluff them into thinking they haven't got a valid defence."

Premier Daniel Andrews said that from time to time the system didn't work and people do get penalised despite doing the right thing.

"Common sense tells you that's going to happen," Mr Andrews said.

"We'll get some advice on the technical elements of that."