Thread: Received fine but bought ticket! Help!

My partner bought a bus ticket in Wolverhampton recently, and was travelling home when she was asked to produce it by an inspector. She looked through her handbag but couldn't find it (even though it was in there), and advised the inspector of this fact. The inspector was fine with this, and said she would have to issue a fine for the standard fare (£20), but if the ticket came to light later and was sent off along with the card, then the fine would be dropped.

Anyway, she gets home and as luck would have it finds the ticket, so this was sent back along with the card and a covering letter. This morning a letter arrives saying that whilst they have read and noted her comments, it is her responsibility to have a ticket for inspection at all times so they will not waive the fine. Basically, despite receiving proof that a valid ticket was purchased, they are still trying to pursue the fine!

Where do we stand legally on this? I have no intention of paying the fine, as to my mind a fine is nothing more than an admission of guilt for a criminal offence, and as no offence has been committed I fail to see how a fine can be enforced.

Any help would be appreciated....

Justin

I would argue along the lines that if the inspector had not advised you the fine would be dropped, your partner would presumably have keeped looking for the ticket until it had been found.

Effectively she and the inspector mutually agreed to relax the requirement to produce it at the time so there was no failure to comply.

Its all about proof.

She cannot prove the ticket she produced later was her ticket.

She cannot prove that the inspector said the fine would be waived.

They can prove she did not produce a ticket when requested.

Legally you dont have a leg to stand on, but I would continue your pursuit of common sense in this matter.
How did your wife pay? if it was other than cash then that can be helpful to show the ticket was hers and not someone elses or one she bought later.