The MTA says commuters could be hit with a surcharge of up to $6.50 if they can't show the conductor that they have an activated train ticket.

Earlier in the week, the Long Island Rail Road tweeted that commuters should remember to activate their e-tickets before boarding the train.

 But some commuters who spoke with News 12 say they activate their ticket while on the train.

Chris Tasso, of Glen Head, called the charge "a little excessive."

The LIRR's tweet also drew criticism from the LIRR Commuter Council, which called it "ill-timed and ill-advised."

On Friday, a LIRR spokesperson clarified that commuters can activate tickets on board a train without paying a penalty. He said you don't need cell service for that, but you do need cell service to buy an e-ticket. And if you're on a train passing through an area with poor cell service, you could end up having to buy a ticket from the conductor. That's when you would be assessed the surcharge.