fine for not having paid bus fare

[tezmand]

hi my 15yr old daughter got fined for not having a valid ticket on a west midlands bus she had actually paid but couldnt find the ticket when inspector got on does anyone know if they follow these fines up i am in middle of writing letter to explain what happened what is the law on making a 15yr old school child pay a fine

[lcg]

yes they do....and yes they can make her pay (or you!). you don't just have to pay for a ticket, you also have to keep it. they can enforce whatever policy they like....if you kick up a stink they may ban her from using the bus. certainly try a letter, but don't push it too far.

[Anngel]

..time to buy her a special purse to keep her ticket in I would say. Does she have pocket money? I would suggest docking some of it to pay the fine. Might make her more careful next time!

[tezmand]

if i end up having to pay it she will pay it one way or another !!

[lcg]

good. is a great way to teach children to be responsible....my son has to fork out every time he breaks/loses something. i got completely sick of clearing up his messes and at the age of 12 he got told that was it - no more replacing uniform, kit of any description or stuff he broke....and guess what? he suddenly starts being sensible (well, a little bit more sensible, anyway). at 15, she needs to be able to start sorting her own stuff out x

[Maydup]

You sure she paid? Wouldn't the driver vouch for her?

[ummmm]

Don't buses have cameras now?

[lcg]

newer ones will....but i suspect it is up to the passenger to prove that they have a ticket....not the other way round x

[factor-fiction]

I assume the fine is, as you said in the first sentence, for not having a valid ticket rather than for not having paid

[ojread2]

The driver vouch for her?
And do you think s/he'll remember her getting on the bus? no they won't

You are supposed to put your ticket in your purse/pocket/safe place until you get off the bus. If you can't produce it, then you get caught, then a fine you will pay.
The warning signs are there for all to read

Yes, many buses have cameras now, but, that is completely irrelevant to this. It will not be used to proving someone paid LOL.

It will be followed through, so my advice is to pay up now whilst it is at the lowest it can be

[tonywiltshire]

As usual F30 is correct the offence is not having a valid ticket, I am surprised it was decided that this was treated as a crime, and in London a penalty fare can be imposed. If your daughter is 15 years old you will be the responsible for paying any fine, provided this is reasonable and you have been given the opportunity to attend court, if you did attend court you should have been allowed to make representations over payment.

[factor-fiction]

It may just be a misuse of terminology, tony- it may be that it was a penalty rather than a fine

[ojread2]

I can answer that tony - the government subsidise fares so much, and so many people do not pay fares or 'lose' their tickets, that there has to be something to act as a deterrent

[tezmand]

wrote a letter explained what happen got a reply this morning dropped the fine as act of goodwill

[boxtops]

I never understand the youngsters who get on our school buses - they have a pass but get given a ticket, as soon as they are given it they put it in the bin.

[tommy-h]

Well done,common sense breaking out in W M who would have thought.

[DTCwordfan]

she's lucky! Mate of mine had to go in front of the Law Society when getting his legal qualifications so as to explain why he had a record for travelling on Brit Rail without a ticket when he was 14.......ridiculous you might say, however....