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Title: Tiverton woman fined for skipping her train fare Post by: Chris from Nailsea on July 01, 2014, 23:56:40 From Mid Devon Gazette (http://www.middevongazette.co.uk/Train-fare-fine/story-21281853-detail/story.html):
Quote Tiverton woman fined for skipping her train fare A Tiverton woman who tried to skip paying her full train fare has been ordered to pay more than ^500. Charlotte Coffey, 28, was travelling on a First Great Western train on November 15 when she was stopped at Exeter Central. Coffey was fined ^400 in her absence at Exeter Magistrates' Court on June 11. The bench also instructed her to pay costs of ^130, a victim surcharge of ^40 and compensation of ^5.70. Title: Re: Tiverton woman fined for skipping her train fare Post by: JayMac on July 02, 2014, 00:03:29 Looks like she will end up paying, in total, 100 times the ^5.70 fare due. And it's possible she may have a criminal record as well.
A cautionary tale. And, as an aside, I doubt very much she was on the class of train pictured in the linked news item (http://www.middevongazette.co.uk/Train-fare-fine/story-21281853-detail/story.html). ::) Title: Re: Tiverton woman fined for skipping her train fare Post by: chrisr_75 on July 02, 2014, 00:06:36 Good!
More of this needs to happen to deliberate evaders, it ultimately results in higher fares for everyone else who is honest enough to pay. I also notice the person in question couldn't even be bothered to turn up to court to offer some form of explanation... Title: Re: Tiverton woman fined for skipping her train fare Post by: smokey on July 02, 2014, 10:33:21 I'd give the Mid Devon Gazette credit as the picture they used is of a FGW train, as opposed to SWT, East Coast, Virgin, XC, or Steam, European, American or a Tram. :)
Title: Re: Tiverton woman fined for skipping her train fare Post by: SDS on July 02, 2014, 23:43:50 Criminal record. Depends if the TOC prosecuted under RRA1889 or under bye-law18. The later does not result in a criminal record, the former does and is listed as a dishonesty offence so kiss goodbye to jobs involving trust.
^400 seems a bit on the high side for a first time fine. Normally in my experience it's around ^150-^200 plus costs for a first time offence. Costs also seem low, again I've seen costs as high as ^195. Only thing the TOC gets is costs and compensation. Title: Re: Tiverton woman fined for skipping her train fare Post by: Network SouthEast on July 03, 2014, 00:42:00 Criminal record. Depends if the TOC prosecuted under RRA1889 or under bye-law18. The later does not result in a criminal record, the former does and is listed as a dishonesty offence so kiss goodbye to jobs involving trust. I thought at Magistrate's Court the "costs" are usually the cost to the court and not the person bringing the claim?^400 seems a bit on the high side for a first time fine. Normally in my experience it's around ^150-^200 plus costs for a first time offence. Costs also seem low, again I've seen costs as high as ^195. Only thing the TOC gets is costs and compensation. Title: Re: Tiverton woman fined for skipping her train fare Post by: SDS on July 03, 2014, 14:33:29 I was always told costs are what it cost to bring the prosecution. IE filing fees, court hearing fee, cost of prosecutor.
The mags get the fine back, well it goes to into central government funds and is absorbed etc etc. The TOC gets costs and compensation back. However you can challenge costs if you think they are too high and the prosecution has to prove they are true costs. Title: Re: Tiverton woman fined for skipping her train fare Post by: Network SouthEast on July 03, 2014, 23:50:56 Yes, you do appear correct. This page (http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/a_to_c/costs/annex_1_-_scales_of_cost/) has some interesting notes about costs.
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