Hmm! Yesterday i had a terrible experience. I was traveling by tram near margarit island and 1 ticket inspector and cop entered and checked the tickets and they caught me for not having a photo id. They asked for my address card and gave something like a yellow slip. The cop explained me in broken english i had to go to Blaha Luiza ter and Akacfa to get this sorted out (atleast this was i understood).
I never traveled without a ticket in Budapest. When i bought the monthly pass first time, the lady at the counter kept telling me something about photo id, if i buy a monthly pass but didnt tell me its a must. I didnt know what exactly it was..
Nonetheless i made one now. I went to to BZV office in Akacfa utca to pay HUF 2000 fine and went to Blaha Luiza ter counter (kassa) to make photo ID. I had to take photo from photo machine paying HUF 1000 and extra HUF 250 at the counter to make photo id.
I was told that my monthly pass isnt valid without photo id. This is what i was told at the counter.
Hmm! It was quite an experience and looks to me, this summer, even foreigners arent left unpunished. I hope a warning or something would do for innocent foreigners who dont speak local language in budapest.