"Barry Salter" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 21 Oct 2005 00:56:14 +0100, Laurence Payne
wrote:

There always turns out to be considerable subtext to this sort of
thing. Let's see what emerges. I'll almost guarantee she had an
agenda.

I'd be willing to lay money on her Oyster not having been read properly
(perhaps because she didn't touch it flat to the disc) and the driver
not having called her back, given the 94 is a "normal" Double Decker
route.

I'd further suggest that she was given the option of paying the £20
Penalty Fare, declined to do so, failed to pay within 21 days, and
*that* is why TfL are taking her to Court.

Well I saw the BBC London news report and the accused fare dodger was quite
emphatic that she offered to pay the penalty fare a number of times, but the
inspector just demanded her name and address and confiscated the oyster
card. This was in February, and she has got the summons two weeks ago.

If her version of events are true, it would not be a first. TfL penalty fare
staff seem to assume everyone without a valid fare did so deliberately and
needs to go through the courts . The whole system is reminiscent of the ham
fisted way of the performance related pay parking wardens were originally
run. There must be some kind of internal target for prosecutions they have
all the staff aiming for.

Cheers,

Barry

--
Barry Salter, barry at southie dot me dot uk
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