What is deemed acceptable?

[whole diary]

[Brucey]

But Brucey's comment does stand, if he's correct.

See 9.2: http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/cctv_code_of_practice_html/9_responsibilities.html

[JayMac]

What if you are stopped after giving up on buying a ticket at your destination, interviewed under caution, and a prosecution is instigated under the Regulation of Railways Act?

They would first need to prove intent to defraud.

If you're stopped by an officer of the railway who has seen you walk past an open ticket office at your destination and you attempt to leave the station having not yet purchased your fare, then that is sufficient proof of intent. Plenty of successful RRA 1889 prosecutions have been made by TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) for just this scenario. Just asked Northern Rail's prosecutions dept. They're particularly tough on fare evasion, going for RRA 1889 prosecutions more so than byelaw breaches. That said, first time offenders can usually settle out of court, but that still ain't cheap. Does avoid the criminal record though. Second time? You'll almost certainly be taken to court.

[LiskeardRich]

Northerns prosecution team are very hot on the subject, yet often fail to provide an opportunity to purchase a ticket!

[LiskeardRich]

what is the procedure if you board a train at Penryn, travelling to Falmouth. no ticketing facilities at either end, and the TM^‡(resolve) does not get around to you? Journey time is about 8-9 minutes from Penryn to Falmouth Docks, 2 intermediate stations in this time. Despite the massive increases in passenger figures i still see this happening daily when the train is busy.
Could you be really honest and phone to pay or is there another way?

I personally always look where the TM is and board near him/her as i'm all for supporting the local lines, and want to see that 90% increase in journeys made increase even more, so wish to pay my fare. others obviously look where tm is and go to the other end to avoid!

[Brucey]

If you're stopped by an officer of the railway who has seen you walk past an open ticket office at your destination and you attempt to leave the station having not yet purchased your fare, then that is sufficient proof of intent.

The question here is "how long are you expected to hold your ticket for"?  In my opinion, once you've stepped off a train and are outside a compulsory ticket area (if present), the ticket can be disposed of.  However, it seems Northern think differently and expect a ticket to be retained until leaving the railway.

[JayMac]

I think it reasonable, at unbarriered staffed stations, to hold on to your ticket until you step through a station exit.

Just don't drop it on the floor the moment you step outside though. Those pesky RPIs^▸ (Revenue Protection Inspector (or Retail Price Index, depending on the context)) are often backed up by BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) PCSOs - one of whom may decide to issue you with a fixed penalty notice for littering!

[Sleepy]

  bignose - don`t forget tickets are TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) property, so should you give them back at end of journey !

[Chris from Nailsea]

Hmm. I tried to do that once, at a Revenue Block on platform 1 at NLS: the RPI^▸ (Revenue Protection Inspector (or Retail Price Index, depending on the context)) to whom I proffered my ticket was rather brusque, to be honest - and all I was trying to do was to return my ticket, as required? 

[Mookiemoo]

Hmm. I tried to do that once, at a Revenue Block on platform 1 at NLS: the RPI^▸ (Revenue Protection Inspector (or Retail Price Index, depending on the context)) to whom I proffered my ticket was rather brusque, to be honest - and all I was trying to do was to return my ticket, as required? 

Which begs another q - if I didn't have a ticket but was going to nailsea and saw a revenue block - I would merely stay on the train to another destination and get a ticket in between

Its a bit like people who get done by speed cameras - they don't look ahead

[vacman]

What if you are stopped after giving up on buying a ticket at your destination, interviewed under caution, and a prosecution is instigated under the Regulation of Railways Act?

They would first need to prove intent to defraud.

Or they could just charge you with the strict liability byelaw 18(1) or 18(2).

[Btline]

Its a bit like people who get done by speed cameras - they don't look ahead

This is probably for another thread, but what is the point of fixed speed cameras? There are signs, your SatNav will bleep, there are white markings on the road and the camera is painted yellow! Same when there is a train announcement - if you havn't bought a ticket, please get off the train and buy one as RPIs^▸ (Revenue Protection Inspector (or Retail Price Index, depending on the context)) are going to go through the train and penalty fare you. Why warn them? Surely the aim should be to fine and prosecute as much of the dodgers as possible?!