Should I pay ?

ShaneUK

Are you sure this enforcement officer is legitimate? And the phone number you called?

I thought it was an "on the spot" type fine.

What number were you asked to call? Could be a new way of "conning"/scare tactics (Or perhaps I watch too much "The Real Hustle" and similar programmes!)

geordieracer

It is supposed to be an on the spot fine. What sort of enforcement officer was it? What was he wearing? Who did he say he worked for and what station was it at?

I work on teh railway and can assure you we do not employ enforcement officers to catch people out smoking.

And its irrelevant if you didnt see a sign - there was enough news coverage when Network rail banned it smoking well before the national smoking ban came in place for you to have at least seen one report. i smoke and its a right !!!!er but ignorance is no defence as stated before. Though if youo can answer the questions above i may be able to help you.

neilmcl

Not all stations are run by Network Rail. The private rail compainies can and do employ their own enforcement officers who don't have to issue on the spot fines. More details from the OP on this would prove useful.

pinkshoes

I'm in two minds on this one...

Firstly, give up smoking, and the £50 fine will easily be affordable.

Secondly, I too nearly got caught out on this one a couple of years ago.

I rarely use trains, but had to change somewhere as my train decided to terminate, and was about to light up (platform not under cover, so not indoors) when I noticed no one else was smoking. I asked, and apparently all stations are now no smoking. No signs though... apparently the sign was on the entrance, which wasn't much use if you arrived via train and not via the main entrance...

ps - I have since given up smoking, so have now saved over £600

geordieracer

neilmcl wrote: »

Not all stations are run by Network Rail. The private rail compainies can and do employ their own enforcement officers who don't have to issue on the spot fines. More details from the OP on this would prove useful.

doesnt matter if they run them or not they own them all so all rules apply as its a railway by-law and a national law of no smoking in the work place.

I have never heard of any TOC employing a smoking enforcement officer and they would not have the power(so im led to believe) to enforce a smoking fine as they do not have the same powers as the police given that it is an enforceable LAW.

neilmcl

geordieracer wrote: »

I have never heard of any TOC employing a smoking enforcement officer and they would not have the power(so im led to believe) to enforce a smoking fine as they do not have the same powers as the police given that it is an enforceable LAW.

Maybe you should use google once in awhile - http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/index.php/cms/pages/view/85

:beer:

drsquirrel

OP had to call up to get their own fine?

What if they had no phone? (I know this is unlikely).

What if they didn't call? Shouldn't they get a ticket from the official or via the post for them to pay it?


This sounds very dodgy to me, it might be some con, next thing you know, they will be wanting a cheque and will modify it to rip more out of your bank that you first thought...

geordieracer

neilmcl wrote: »

Maybe you should use google once in awhile - http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/index.php/cms/pages/view/85

:beer:

dont need google when i work for a TOC,I know about them but Im not sure they themselves can issue on the spot fines for smoking on a station. They do say

whilst also upholding railway legislation

but i don think this includes fining people on the spot for smoking. As far as i have seen them do is just be a presence and maybe travel on the trains with the guards to offer some protection. In the last 15 years that i have been using southern and southeastern i have never once seen them hand out a fine for anything. They have less powers then PCSOs.

Could be worng, but never heard nor seen of it.

neilmcl

This from the British Transport Police - http://www.btp.police.uk/industry/railway_safety_accreditation/industry_case_study.aspx suggests that REOs can issue fixed penalty notices where necessary.

geordieracer

neilmcl wrote: »

This from the British Transport Police - http://www.btp.police.uk/industry/railway_safety_accreditation/industry_case_study.aspx suggests that REOs can issue fixed penalty notices where necessary.

your searching hard here to prove me wrong aren't you. As i said i have never seen or heard of them giving one for any offence and only as a deterrent to fare dodgers and others on the railway.