Should I pay ?

amyevans25

Hi there, I'm new so please be gentle!
I went to a rugby match friday, it was packed on the trainstation when I got off so I stood on platform an lit up a cigarette.... an enforcemant officer came over and told me id broke the law so i put it out straight away. Then he reported me, i pleaded with him because i havnt been on a station for about 2years and didnt knw it was no smoking, and there were no signs in plainsight and no announcements over the tannoy until I left. He continued to tell me to phone the number on the card an id get a slap on the wrists or £10 fine. Phoned the number first thing monday morning and explained and she said id be going to court if I didnt make a settlement offer of between £50 and £100...which I cannot afford as it is christmas and I have 2children. Im really miffed aswell with the officer he completly gave me the wrong information. I am completly dumbstruck and dont know what to do can anybody help me???

Mark_Hewitt

"Ignorance of the law is no defence"

Smoking is banned in all indoor places, which includes railway stations. I believe there is a railway by-law with prohibits smoking on all railway premises.

There really is no defence, you've committed a crime and best thing is offer the £50 and hope they take it.

isplumm

Hi,

I would do a search for smoking laws .... also find out name of smoking organisation

http://www.forestonline.org/output/home.aspx

See what they say .... but as it is law that you can not smoke on railway stations, I think you are stuck!!

Mark

amyevans25

Well thats a bit harsh mate....... I have not been on a train for years, and there were no signs/announcements of any sort, I understand I have broken the law, but how can I realise I have broken the law if I did not know that the certain law was there. It was an open platform! And I'l say agin no signs....not to mention the officer that informed me obviously didnt even know what he was talking about.

amyevans25

Thanks mark ... will do.

Mark_Hewitt

Although I have to say, it was rather harsh! He could have just told you to put it out, and left it at that.

amyevans25

Could there possibly be a loophole as he gave me wrong information?

DVardysShadow

Mark_Hewitt wrote: »

... There really is no defence, you've committed a crime and best thing is offer the £50 and hope they take it.

If that is crime, then maybe crime is not the big problem we have been led to believe.

Anihilator

Honesty ma lord I shouldnt be found guilty. I havent been in a train in years and there was no signs telling me not to murder folk.

Smoking is illegal in public places. This includes train stations. It isnt there fault your ignorant of the laws in this country.

soolin

A £50 fine is only what, 9 packets of cigarettes? If you can afford to smoke then surely you can afford the fine.

You could even use this to your long term advantage, give up smoking to pay the fine and see if you can keep it up, save all the extra money in a jar and you can give your children an extra special time for Christmas.

Tozer

Sounds a bit odd. Since when do enforcement officers invite people to telephone to make an offer of between £50 and £100????

My understanding is that the fixed penalty notice is a £50 fine. It may be discounted if paid within a specified period of time.

What does the notice actually say?