16 year old on child ticket

[Ali]

Hi there,

A few days ago my friend and I got stopped after getting past the barriers by a member of staff there who asked our age and brought us to the two other members of staff there. They both asked for both of our details and ID, which we gave and he explained to us that the age limit for a child ticket is 15 on trains unlike buses, which we were unaware of. The man was very understanding and assured us that we were not in any trouble and that we have to now wait for a letter to come in the post, but he wasn't clear about what the letter would say. After doing many google searches, I am now very very worried that I will have to pay a huge fine despite the station being a "£20 penalty fare station" which we were not given the option to give and I truthfully told the man that I had bought a child ticket around 4 times after turning 16 (and was never stopped before), which could make the fine even larger or we could now have a criminal record. I was wondering if I could get some advice on what to do or maybe some idea of what will happen next? Thank you.

 

[najaB]

After doing many google searches, I am now very very worried that I will have to pay a huge fine ... or we could now have a criminal record. I was wondering if I could get some advice on what to do or maybe some idea of what will happen next? Thank you.

First thing first, it is *very* unlikely that you will face prosecution, and even more unlikely that any prosecution would result in criminal record. Even if the worst did happen (it won't, but for argument's sake), a conviction for railway ticketing offence would be expunged from a DBS check after 12 months (I believe even sooner in the case of a minor, but I'm not 100% sure about it).

As to what will happen next, the most likely course of events is that the TOC will write to you asking why you shouldn't be prosecuted. If, in reply, you take responsibility for your mistake, demonstrate that you are sorry, offer to repay any costs they've incurred and promise to always buy adult tickets in future they will settle the matter (probably for the fare due).

 

[Fare-Cop]

Clear guidelines from MoJ suggest that prosecutors should seek to keep matters involving juveniles out of the Youth Courts system wherever practical and for a 16 years old and an offence such as this it is certain that you need not worry on that account. (The only possibility I can think of would be in the case of a truly prolific offender and strung together with a collection of other, much more serious matters.)

Exactly as najaB says,

the most likely course of events is that the TOC will write to you asking why you shouldn't be prosecuted. If, in reply, you take responsibility for your mistake, demonstrate that you are sorry, offer to repay any costs they've incurred and promise to always buy adult tickets in future they will settle the matter (probably for the fare due).

Just don't ignore the letter and reply promptly once you receive it.

 

[BluePenguin]

O dear what a pickle! You need to wait for the letter to come through first. The letter will simply explain that you were stopped on that date and the reason why. It will also ask you for your version of events. When it does, send a brief reply saying sorry and pay the £20. You incriminated yourself by showing ID and admitting the offence so you can't wriggle out of paying unfortunately. Do NOT send back a long reply, short and sweet is best.

 

[Harbouring]

O dear what a pickle! You need to wait for the letter to come through first. The letter will simply explain that you were stopped on that date and the reason why. It will also ask you for your version of events. When it does, send a brief reply saying sorry and pay the £20. You incriminated yourself by showing ID and admitting the offence so you can't wriggle out of paying unfortunately. Do NOT send back a long reply, short and sweet is best.

We don’t know what the letter says yet so I would suggest to come back here when the letter arrives and I’m sure some members here will be able to advise the best response in that scenario.

 

[Ali]

First thing first, it is *very* unlikely that you will face prosecution, and even more unlikely that any prosecution would result in criminal record. Even if the worst did happen (it won't, but for argument's sake), a conviction for railway ticketing offence would be expunged from a DBS check after 12 months (I believe even sooner in the case of a minor, but I'm not 100% sure about it).

As to what will happen next, the most likely course of events is that the TOC will write to you asking why you shouldn't be prosecuted. If, in reply, you take responsibility for your mistake, demonstrate that you are sorry, offer to repay any costs they've incurred and promise to always buy adult tickets in future they will settle the matter (probably for the fare due).

Clear guidelines from MoJ suggest that prosecutors should seek to keep matters involving juveniles out of the Youth Courts system wherever practical and for a 16 years old and an offence such as this it is certain that you need not worry on that account. (The only possibility I can think of would be in the case of a truly prolific offender and strung together with a collection of other, much more serious matters.)

Exactly as najaB says,


Just don't ignore the letter and reply promptly once you receive it.

Great thank you very much for clearing that up, I was mainly worried about the prospect of being prosecuted but hopefully that won't be the case.

 

[Ali]

O dear what a pickle! You need to wait for the letter to come through first. The letter will simply explain that you were stopped on that date and the reason why. It will also ask you for your version of events. When it does, send a brief reply saying sorry and pay the £20. You incriminated yourself by showing ID and admitting the offence so you can't wriggle out of paying unfortunately. Do NOT send back a long reply, short and sweet is best.

I did mention that I did not realise that age limit for a child ticket was 15 years old, so I was honest and showed my ID because I knew that lying was an even bigger offence! Although I'm not too keen on paying the fine, I honestly don't mind and won't buy child tickets in the future, I was worried in case the fine would be larger as I told the man that I had bought child tickets before when he had asked as they apparently could check through my bank details. But thank you for the advice on the reply!

 

[Ali]

We don’t know what the letter says yet so I would suggest to come back here when the letter arrives and I’m sure some members here will be able to advise the best response in that scenario.

Yes I'll definitely do so. Do you have any idea on how long it might take for the letter to arrive?

 

[ainsworth74]

Yes I'll definitely do so. Do you have any idea on how long it might take for the letter to arrive?

I'd settle in. It can take many many weeks for them to arrive and they may have a backlog to deal with if the prosecutions department has had staff off over the Festive Period.

If I were you I'd do my best to put it to the back of your mind for now. There's nothing to be gained from stressing yourself.

 

[Ali]

I'd settle in. It can take many many weeks for them to arrive and they may have a backlog to deal with if the prosecutions department has had staff off over the Festive Period.

If I were you I'd do my best to put it to the back of your mind for now. There's nothing to be gained from stressing yourself.

Oh ok, thank you. I'll try!

 

[CatfordCat]

that the age limit for a child ticket is 15 on trains unlike buses,

Don't know where you are, but most bus operators charge adult fare from age 16, the same as trains do.

As in 16 year olds (from their 16th birthday onward) are expected to pay adult fare, not that you can carry on paying child fare until you turn 17.

Obviously there are some bus operators (or transport authorities who provide bus services through contracted operators) who have a different policy (Reading Buses for example charge child fare up to 19th birthday) - there's no legal requirement (certainly in England) for deregulated bus operators even to offer reduced fares for children, let alone between what ages they should do so.

You may just want to check you're not asking for trouble on the buses as well...

 

[rs101]

Don't know where you are, but most bus operators charge adult fare from age 16, the same as trains do.

As in 16 year olds (from their 16th birthday onward) are expected to pay adult fare, not that you can carry on paying child fare until you turn 17.

Obviously there are some bus operators (or transport authorities who provide bus services through contracted operators) who have a different policy (Reading Buses for example charge child fare up to 19th birthday) - there's no legal requirement (certainly in England) for deregulated bus operators even to offer reduced fares for children, let alone between what ages they should do so.

You may just want to check you're not asking for trouble on the buses as well...

Used to be different age limits for child tickets on the same buses around here, depending on whether it was a commercial service or a council contracted one (the last bus at night monday-friday and all sunday bus services).
First Buses have different concessions for 16 year old in different parts of the country - no wonder there's confusion.

 

[E_Reeves]

What would happen if you had no ID? Just let you go due to lack of proof?