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    • Thank-you dx, What you have written is certainly helpful to my understanding. The only thing I would say, what I found to be most worrying and led me to start this discussion is, I believe the judge did not merely admonish the defendant in the case in question, but used that point to dismiss the case in the claimants favour. To me, and I don't have your experience or knowledge, that is somewhat troubling. Again, the caveat being that we don't know exactly what went on but I think we can infer the reason for the judgement. Thank-you for your feedback. EDIT: I guess that the case I refer to is only one case and it may never happen again and the strategy not to appeal is still the best strategy even in this event, but I really did find the outcome of that case, not only extremely annoying but also worrying. Let's hope other judges are not quite so narrow minded and don't get fixated on one particular issue as FTMDave alluded to.
    • Indians, traditionally known as avid savers, are now stashing away less money and borrowing more.View the full article
    • the claimant in their WS can refer to whatever previous CC judgements they like, as we do in our WS's, but CC judgements do not set a legal precedence. however, they do often refer to judgements like Bevis, those cases do created a precedence as they were court of appeal rulings. as for if the defendant, prior to the raising of a claim, dobbed themselves in as the driver in writing during any appeal to the PPC, i don't think we've seen one case whereby the claimant referred to such in their WS.. ?? but they certainly typically include said appeal letters in their exhibits. i certainly dont think it's a good idea to 'remind' them of such at the defence stage, even if the defendant did admit such in a written appeal. i would further go as far to say, that could be even more damaging to the whole case than a judge admonishing a defendant for not appealing to the PPC in the 1st place. it sort of blows the defendant out the water before the judge reads anything else. dx  
    • Hi LFI, Your knowledge in this area is greater than I could possibly hope to have and as such I appreciate your feedback. I'm not sure that I agree the reason why a barrister would say that, only to get new customers, I'm sure he must have had professional experience in this area that qualifies him to make that point. 🙂 In your point 1 you mention: 1] there is a real danger that some part of the appeal will point out that the person appealing [the keeper ] is also the driver. I understand the point you are making but I was referring to when the keeper is also the driver and admits it later and only in this circumstance, but I understand what you are saying. I take on board the issues you raise in point 2. Is it possible that a PPC (claimant) could refer back to the case above as proof that the motorist should have appealed, like they refer back to other cases? Thanks once again for the feedback.
    • Well barristers would say that in the hope that motorists would go to them for advice -obviously paid advice.  The problem with appealing is at least twofold. 1] there is a real danger that some part of the appeal will point out that the person appealing [the keeper ] is also the driver.  And in a lot of cases the last thing the keeper wants when they are also the driver is that the parking company knows that. It makes it so much easier for them as the majority  of Judges do not accept that the keeper and the driver are the same person for obvious reasons. Often they are not the same person especially when it is a family car where the husband, wife and children are all insured to drive the same car. On top of that  just about every person who has a valid insurance policy is able to drive another person's vehicle. So there are many possibilities and it should be up to the parking company to prove it to some extent.  Most parking company's do not accept appeals under virtually any circumstances. But insist that you carry on and appeal to their so called impartial jury who are often anything but impartial. By turning down that second appeal, many motorists pay up because they don't know enough about PoFA to argue with those decisions which brings us to the second problem. 2] the major parking companies are mostly unscrupulous, lying cheating scrotes. So when you appeal and your reasons look as if they would have merit in Court, they then go about  concocting a Witness Statement to debunk that challenge. We feel that by leaving what we think are the strongest arguments to our Member's Witness Statements, it leaves insufficient time to be thwarted with their lies etc. And when the motorists defence is good enough to win, it should win regardless of when it is first produced.   
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Southern rail prosecution and court heating


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Hi all,

I have been prosecuted and set a summon for not having a train tkt during a revenue check by southern rail at Gatwick airport.

I plead not guilty and I due for a hearing on the 31st of Jan. in frotn of the Magistrate Court

As I cannot afford a lawyer I am defending my self with little knowledge apart what I can read on line.

 

Here the facts:

back in September I took a train in a hurry at East Croydon Station with the idea that I could do a train ticket (tkt) on the same train. That's what I always knew since I have done it in the past (I have proof for that). This time a tkt officer did not pass by so I was gonna go at Gatwick tkt office to pay the train tkt for that same journey.

 

Once off the train a revenue check was in action at the gate. As I saw them instantly I also saw a revenue officer before them dealing with a customer and I APPROACHED HIM waiting till he finished. When my turn came I explained the situation and asked kindly if I could do the ticket paying him.

He said it was not possible and that I had to pay a Penalty Fare(PF). I refused to do so as I believed was not fare for the fact that I did my tkt on the train in the past, He said that it was not possible to do a tkt on the train.

 

I refused to pay the PCN but he wrote a Witness Statement (WS) which I signed.

The statement is a standard one where he put the case as he stopped me, asks me a tkt and I had not tkt to show hence the PF.

There is part of the WS where the question is...

'I put it to you, that if I had not stopped you today, your rail fare would have been avoided. is that correct?'...

My reply on the WS: 'I was going to the office to buy the tkt' .

The officer said:' Why did you refuse a penalty fare?'

I replied:'The gate was open at East Croydon and the train to Gatwick was arriving. I took the chance to do the tkt on the train as I have done in the past." I then signed it reading it quite quickly even realizing soon after that the way it was put it was as he had stopped me but I was the person to approach him.

The prosecution in fact is based on the fact that I was stopped.

 

I also asked a copy of the statement and he refused to give me one even if they had a double carbon copy there , he also asked to another officer in the distance and he confirmed that I should not be given any copy.

Is this possible? It should be our right to have a copy.

 

Before receiving the summon I exchanged few letters with the Prosecutor where I re-wrote my statement explaining again the situation and how the facts went including the fact that I had done a tkt on the train in the past with no Penalty and that I had proof. Those were not accepted and they asked for a Summon.

 

The prosecutor in this letter says also: ''You will have noted that if a conductor sells a tkt on board one of our trains the tkt is endorsed with a Penalty Fare Warning as conductors are not licensed by DfT to issue Penalty Fare notice.'

When I buy the tkt on the train I thought that's it I am done, I am not going to read the terms and condition behind the tkt . How many people would do that?

Also in those terms and condition there is nothing saying that 'conductors are not licensed by DfT to issue Penalty Fare notice hence a warning is issued'. I think all should be more fair and clear to citizens.

 

A lawyer gave me a free 1st consultation saying that he noted that:

 

- You have pleaded not guilty to the offence. Hence, you will now no longer need to attend the Court on 23 December 2011 for the summons. The Court will now write to you with a new date for the trial. Please note that it is likely that the prosecution costs will also increase.

 

- You will be appearing at Court because you could not produce a valid ticket for your train journey. The offence under which this relates is 18 (2) of the Railway Byelaws. The section states;

 

'A person shall hand over his ticket for inspection and verification of validity when asked to do so by an authorised person.'

 

The potential defences to this are contained within 18 (3) of the Byelaws. I do not think that you have a defence under these as they are essentially when there are no facilities, a notice stating you do not need to pay, or permission to travel without a valid ticket.

 

However, under section 2 it states that you should show a valid ticket when asked to do so. You may have a defence here as you were not asked to show a ticket by the inspector, instead, you approached him. You will have to confirm if he ever actually asked you for a ticket.

 

 

Could I argue the inconsistency of the operate of Southern rail because I have done the ticket on the train before?

 

On their Terms & Condition there is a point saying (I was not aware of all the Terms & Cond. till I read them now):

"Can I pay at my destination if I am in a rush?

No, if you board on a train with no ticket, then you may] have to pay a Penalty Fare."

I am underlining the word MAY which I believe is a further point to argue as they may issue or may not issue the ticket

 

Could this be a winning case? is anyone gone through a similar situation? Still did not understand if this is a criminal or civil matter.

I also fee that the statement should had been sent to me before the summon and when there was a first conversation with the Prosecutor where initially was offered to me to pay 35 pounds to resolve the matter. Reading the Witness statement I signed, I could have remembered what I said or how it was putted from their side so for me maybe deciding differently and may be paying the sum. Or point put to the prosecutor that I was to approach them not that I was stopped so to make them think twice. Who knows!

 

Would be nice also to know whai and if I could ask money back for damage or else in case I win. I have no idea how it works for this in Court. I look forward to hearing from some one back!...

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You stand no chance I'm affraid, you were reported for a strict liability offence here, it doesn't matter that he didn't ask for a ticket as you didn't have one anyway, just because the gate was open doesn't mean you should just hop on without a ticket.

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Could I argue the inconsistency of the operate of Southern rail because I have done the ticket on the train before?

 

On their Terms & Condition there is a point saying (I was not aware of all the Terms & Cond. till I read them now):

"Can I pay at my destination if I am in a rush?

No, if you board on a train with no ticket, then you may] have to pay a Penalty Fare."

I am underlining the word MAY which I believe is a further point to argue as they may issue or may not issue the ticket

 

You have answered your questions with this little extract, MAY being like southern pointed out to you that not all conductors are penalty fare trained and ALSO the issue of a penalty fare is a discretion to the inspector. The guidance of your solictor has mislead you a little affraid, As for the notes of the inspector you argue about, that was correct procedure as he/she would have given you the opportunity to have read or to read the notes taken before signing.

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I am surprised that they appear to have charged Byelaw 18.2 in this instance, although it will stick.

 

If Southern had charged 18.1, the OP makes clear s/he doesn't have any defence. Para.4, line 7 of the original post says 'I took the chance'

 

Facilities were there to get a ticket, you didn't use them, you had not been given authority to board without a ticket.

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In the officers statement does he/she ask you if you have a valid ticket?

If they do, then that is the request for the ticket & by saying you dont have one you are unable to hand a ticket over IMO.

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thanks to all for the support, got few points more clear...

I still would like to make them understand that when I took the train I was sure I could do the tkt on it or would have gone to the tkt office to get one when there. Hoping they'd give me a chance as never had any train penalty before, that's all I wish ...

could I discuss all at the hearing and try to find a solution or now the trial in unavoidable?

Any one suggest what could I do now at the hearing?

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Hello there. I'm not sure the guys are around at the moment.

 

I don't know what the legal terms for the offence are for this, but from my knowledge of threads on this forum, you may well have passed a notice that told you not to board the train without a ticket. And if you do board without one, it's your responsibility to seek out a member of staff to buy one.

 

I don't know if you can try to negotiate an out of court settlement if the case has progressed beyond the magistrates' court, hopefully the guys will be able to tell you.

 

My best, HB

Illegitimi non carborundum

 

 

 

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Any one suggest what could I do now at the hearing?

 

I don't know if this answers your question or not, but have you read Old-CodJA's sticky on court appearances?

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?313909-What-happens-when-you-get-to-court-by-Old-CodJA

 

My best, HB

Illegitimi non carborundum

 

 

 

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From my experience, guards on the overnight Brighton Mainline services sometimes offer to sell tickets. As I understand it, they are not duty bound to sell any tickets at all as their job is to ensure the safety of the train.

 

As it's a Penalty Fare area, there is a buy before you board policy in effect. East Croydon is staffed 24 hours, the are at least 8 ticket machines on the concourse and if I'm not mistaken, the ticket office is open all night. Contrary to common belief, these are not provided for decoration. If you choose to ignore these and board a train without a valid ticket, the Train Operating Company is within its right to issue a Penalty Fare. And if you refuse to pay, they're within their right to proceed with a prosection for intent to avoid paying the fare, or at least failure to produce a valid ticket.

 

Many members of the public have a lax attitude to paying upfront for the service that the railway provides, which is not good enough. Obviously providing publicity on Penalty Fares and trusting people to buy a ticket when the barriers are open is not enough to ensure the fare is paid so perhaps the only way to get the message into some people's mind is a hefty charge and/or a prosecution.

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