Northern Rail Penalty Fare

Voyager2002

Deleted_User said:

It's an offence to get on the train without a ticket (in simple terms)


Appealing against breaking the law on the grounds you don't do it very much is not a valid defence, it's like being caught speeding and then appealing that you normally drive at the limit so would they mind lending you off.

The criminal offence involves intent to avoid payment.

The OP made it clear that he approached station staff and offered payment, so there was never any question of a criminal prosecution. Penalty fares are for precisely this kind of situation, where it is clear that the passenger intended to pay but in fact had not done so (and did not have a compelling excuse).

martindow

Voyager2002 said:The penalty fare was issued by "revenue protection officers" who are paid on commission.

Is this correct?

GingerTim

martindow said:

Voyager2002 said:The penalty fare was issued by "revenue protection officers" who are paid on commission.

Is this correct?

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/commission-rates-that-guards-receive-for-selling-tickets-onboard.234187/

Revenue Protection Officers don't receive commission. In addition, I just had a quick search for RPI jobs and though the salary is advertised, commission isn't mentioned anywhere.

Guards get a commission for selling tickets onboard. My dad certainly did when he was a conductor 20 years ago.

[Deleted User]

Voyager2002 said:

Deleted_User said:

It's an offence to get on the train without a ticket (in simple terms)


Appealing against breaking the law on the grounds you don't do it very much is not a valid defence, it's like being caught speeding and then appealing that you normally drive at the limit so would they mind lending you off.

The criminal offence involves intent to avoid payment.

The OP made it clear that he approached station staff and offered payment, so there was never any question of a criminal prosecution. Penalty fares are for precisely this kind of situation, where it is clear that the passenger intended to pay but in fact had not done so (and did not have a compelling excuse).

False

If you read the law (section 4 in particular) - you commit an offence simply by travelling by, being present on or leaving a train and failing to produce a ticket if required to do so by, or [someone acting] on behalf of, the operator

See also section 5

Penalty fares

5.—(1) Subject to regulations 6, 7 and 10, if a person fails to produce a platform ticket or a valid travel ticket in accordance with regulation 4, a collector may charge that person a penalty fare.

Boarding a train, travelling and then leaving and going up to the revenue guys is too late, you have already broken the law (assuming there was a facility to buy a ticket on the station)