TV Licence query

pioneer31

Interesting video which points to a system that works on intimidation (armed officers for god's sake) rather than any logic

The "actual law" doesn't seem to apply as he told them that he doesn't watch live TV.

I've just watched another video where a woman from TVL asks if any equipment in the house receives broadcasts. According to the law, that is irrelevant.

Cornucopia

I think the idea that the Evasion offence is about watching/recording TV broadcasts, but that an appropriately configured installation is reasonable evidence to support an allegation of the offence. This can be given to the Court in the form of a witness statement from the TVL staff or a confession statement.

It's far from ideal, for a variety of reasons, but it is how the process is operated, and c. 160,000 "normal"/non-warrant cases suggests that the Courts are happy with it (though you never know for sure with this kind of thing).

pioneer31 wrote: »

The "actual law" doesn't seem to apply as he told them that he doesn't watch live TV.

There's a subtle difference between the Householder SAYING that he doesn't watch TV and it actually being true.

HWW

Never - ever communicate with scummyTVL/Capita, in ANY way & you will be left in peace to live your LLF life.
The Letters they send, are lies & half-truths - they recycle nicely. Never try to stop them, it shows them that the address is "Live" A GOON on your doorstep, can be sent packing, with: "I do not deal with cold calling salesmen" because THAT is what they are. SAY & sign nothing that matters.
There is a handy quote from a Star trek film that sums it all up:
"Let them eat static"

onomatopoeia99

pioneer31 wrote: »

I would have thought a much more sensible method would be to see if the person has their TV set up, rather than packed away in the attic.

A much more sensible method would be for the government to introduce a "media licence" required for possession of a device capable of receiving TV broadcasts. This would include any computer, tablet or mobile phone with a broadband or 3G connection. No arguments then about whether one is watching or recording TV as it is broadcast, it's a simple "Got a smartphone? TV? Satellite dish on the side of the house? Broadband contract? Need a licence then."

This is the model used in Denmark and their licence is more expensive than ours.

Cornucopia

I think a more sensible method would be to ditch the TV Licence and have the BBC funded by a paid subscription of around the cost of the present Licence.

There is no TV Licence in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and many other countries of the World, and I think that they, like me, see that requiring permission from the State to undertake as mundane an activity as watching TV is ridiculous... and becoming ever more so by the day as our viewing habits expand and diversify.


BTW, I find the argument that effectively runs "you better get used to the UK TV Licence, because the alternative could be a whole lot worse" to be unduly negative and unnecessarily divisive. What if the alternative was "a whole lot better"? Why can't we have that option?