Rail Ticketing Issue
Discussion
The point of writing a letter offering mitigation would be to persuade the company to take the matter no further. What would a statement say other than "I made a mistake for these reasons"? The OP's daughter is bang to rights but acted by mistake rather than deliberately. She should try to ward off a prosecution.
Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 9th August 09:23
Breadvan72 said:
The point of writing a letter offering mitigation would be to persuade the company to take the matter no further. What would a statement say other than "I made a miustake for these reasons"? The OP's daughter is bang to rights but acted by mistake rather than deliberately. She should try to ward off a prosecution.
Not suggesting you're wrong (far more educated than I) - but why is that any different to a plain admission of guilt. On the face of it, the lass had no valid ticket to travel.When ultimately you're in the wrong and, at the same time, hopelessly outgunned, it's usually best practice to retreat on the best terms possible.
Standing your ground, feeling morally justified, might feel good for a short while, but this wears off when you're sinking to the bottom of the Atlantic.
Standing your ground, feeling morally justified, might feel good for a short while, but this wears off when you're sinking to the bottom of the Atlantic.
Breadvan72 said:
What do you suggest? She committed the offence, but there are mitigating factors.
I can't see any mitigating factors in the description other than "I didn't do it on purpose".While a prosecution looks harsh as the girl has been made to pay the full fare and that was only an extra £1.00, simply leaving it there will not deter others who are just turned 18 from taking the chance and buying a junior fare. Not all trains have an inspector checking all tickets and requesting proof of age and nor should they.
Prosecuting those who find themselves with an under 18 ticket when they should have an over 18 ticket, especially in the described circumstance, has a very effective deterrent effect; the outrage seen here demonstrates that.
The alternative of oppressive ticket inspections and proof of age checks on every journey and point of entry and exit to the rail network is expensive and I am share would be met with even more outrage than this case. Passengers will also get very wound up; have you seen air passengers abuse search staff at airports because they have to remove their shoes and belts? FFS there's a risk to their lives and they still complain.
Unfortunately for this young lady, an adult after all, she has put herself in the position and may well be made an example of. AGT is giving good advice IMHO.
pitmansboots said:
I can't see any mitigating factors in the description other than "I didn't do it on purpose".
I can see how she made the mistake after reading this :elanfan said:
here in Cardiff you can travel on a junior ticket by BUS up until your 19th birthday, a facility she used daily to get to college.
I know the bus and train company are different, but as a lot of people will use a combination of bus + train to get to work/college etc shouldn't all the age rules be the same.pitmansboots said:
have you seen air passengers abuse search staff at airports because they have to remove their shoes and belts? FFS there's a risk to their lives and they still complain.
Rightly so, I think (complaint not abuse), although I don't bother to complain, as doing so is pointless. We have forfeited freedoms on the basis of an exaggerated threat. Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 9th August 10:51
/quote]
Rightly so, I think, although I don't bother to complain, as dooing so is pointless. We have forfeited freedoms on the basis of an exaggerated threat.
[/quote]
And a system that does not have the conviction to implement profiling that would stop the arbitrary manner in which such freedoms have been abdicated.
Rightly so, I think, although I don't bother to complain, as dooing so is pointless. We have forfeited freedoms on the basis of an exaggerated threat.
[/quote]
And a system that does not have the conviction to implement profiling that would stop the arbitrary manner in which such freedoms have been abdicated.
Breadvan72 said:
pitmansboots said:
have you seen air passengers abuse search staff at airports because they have to remove their shoes and belts? FFS there's a risk to their lives and they still complain.
Rightly so, I think (complaint not abuse), although I don't bother to complain, as doing so is pointless. We have forfeited freedoms on the basis of an exaggerated threat. 
Hi all - thanks for the comments and advice received so far and in particular Breadvan and AGT.
If people want to have a discussion of freedoms/security etc please would you mind taking it to a new thread. Selfish I know but I'm trying to concentrate on helping my daughter. Sorry difficult to impart tone in text not meant to be 'sniffy'.
Back on subject?
If people want to have a discussion of freedoms/security etc please would you mind taking it to a new thread. Selfish I know but I'm trying to concentrate on helping my daughter. Sorry difficult to impart tone in text not meant to be 'sniffy'.
Back on subject?
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