TfL Fare Evasion SJPN Byelaw 17(1)

[Abbie812]

Hi,

I was travelling through the DLR network on 28th January late after work and I had the wrong card at the top of my wallet so it didn’t work when I tapped in. I was caught by a TfL revenue inspector and was completely cooperative, his witness statement even says that I said I didn’t know the card was blocked.
The card was blocked back in 2024 but I didn’t realise and this was after a period of personal difficulty where I was mentally not staying on top of things after being made redundant and other health issues.
I have been responding to TfL and been completely cooperative but I didn’t tell them about my personal circumstances at the time as it felt unnecessary and I didn’t think they would prosecute for a ‘first time offence’ but I got an SJPN. I sent an email saying this could end my career but received no reply.

I have now sent an email across detailing all my personal circumstances: I was put at risk of redundancy on 13th Jan, 2 weeks before the incident and was working late due to this as well. I usually walk home so forgot to switch my card back to my usual one after travelling abroad. I was also going through lots of physical and mental stress as I was awaiting NHS appointments regarding endometriosis investigation, I had an appointment at the London Egg Bank for fertility preservation the morning after the incident occurred (29th Jan) all while working full time and doing a Masters on top so my head was not focused on transport on that particular evening. I have also said that I have had severe stress with the health things as I was told I needed an urgent appointment by the sonographer at the hospital but couldn’t get one for a month and a half etc and all this was going on while I was dealing with TfL. They sent me a request for final representation on 1st April but due to Easter bank holidays, I got it on 13th April and couldn’t respond before they sent out the SJPN on 14th April due to everything else going on.

They have only listed one offence on my SJPN and it is for the byelaw of being in a ticketed area without a valid ticket. I think it is so incredibly unfair to give someone a career ending criminal conviction over one missed tap during a period of severe mental stress. I have also told them I am going to therapy for all of this. My SJPN deadline is on Monday 4th May and I can’t find a way to get through to them.

1. Is there any chance they will pull my prosecution by Monday?
2. Is there any chance that the Magistrates may allow an adjournment for TfL to review my personal circumstances at the time?
3. Is there any chance that I might not be prosecuted once it gets to the magistrates if I detail all of my personal circumstances in the mitigations box?
4. Is there any contact number to get through to TfL prosecutions as they seem to be ignoring my emails?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Apr 2026 ==

Also for additional context, I was travelling from Canary Wharf DLR to All Saints DLR station and the fare was £1.80 at this point.

 

[SECR 65]

Unfortunately and sadly in your case, TFL will prosecute in almost all circumstances. There is probably very little you can do to avoid this, certainly without the help of a solicitor, which would obviously come at considerable cost. They might be able to convice TFL to let you off with a warning. Forum members can provide a list of contacts for solicitors if needed.

 

[AlterEgo]

Realistically you need to instruct a specialist fare evasion solicitor at this stage. Do so immediately. Ballpark figure is something like £600 to £1000. Collect detailed medical evidence from your GP or consultant to add it to your case.

Having a card which was blocked over a year ago (why do you still have it?) and cutting about on the ungated DLR network is a very common strategy for people who habitually don't pay their fare, so hopefully you can show otherwise that you do pay your fare (TfL will be very interested in this!). Collect bank statements to show this. You need to do all of this immediately as there is very little time left. If you can't evidence regular payment,

and you've had your card blocked for so long
and still carry it
and present it to an inspector

...then they will come to a fairly obvious conclusion I'm afraid. You can't place any weight on the inspector's witness statement for repeating what you told him; after all, as far as TfL are concerned it may well not be true!

Be under no illusions though; TfL prosecute in nearly all circumstances and getting a warning is rare.

https://manaksolicitors.co.uk/ is the most commonly used firm by people who run afoul of the law on TfL.

A conviction for a Bylaw offence will not end your career. TfL prosecute 10,000 to 20,000 cases a year.

 

[Abbie812]

Thank you so much for your swift response. It’s a top up card I use when I travel and was at the top of my Apple Pay as I had just travelled, I typically don’t use it for TfL but have obviously done so here and there by accident. I have sent them all evidence that I am a usual fare paying passenger but they still decided to prosecute.

Is it likely that a solicitor will be able to change anything within a few days? Are they a lot more effective than letters written by the individual?

 

[SECR 65]

Example of solicitor success. As you can see at the start of threads members were very doubtfull that the OP would avoid court:

I need help with fare evasion case

On February 2026 I was stopped on TfL London overground and asked to show oyster. But I had my partners freedom pass as we share the same little black wallet. Sometimes she uses it and sometimes I use it with my oyster. I forgot she used it the previous day. I was in a rush and picked it up. I...

www.railforums.co.uk

This is the only recent thread I can find where the person has enlisted a solicitor and then updated the forum afterwards. Solicitors will definitely help but will cost you. I would recomend having a look at some of these threads:

Search results for query: solicitor tfl

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[island]

I think it is so incredibly unfair to give someone a career ending criminal conviction over one missed tap during a period of severe mental stress.

It is incredibly unlikely this will be "career-ending".

1. Is there any chance they will pull my prosecution by Monday?

No, but it should be noted that the deadline to respond is not the day on which the court will handle your case. That is the day it becomes "ready for processing"; it will typically be a few more weeks before it reaches the top of the pile.

2. Is there any chance that the Magistrates may allow an adjournment for TfL to review my personal circumstances at the time?

Yes, if you have responded to the SJPN requesting this.

3. Is there any chance that I might not be prosecuted once it gets to the magistrates if I detail all of my personal circumstances in the mitigations box?

You have already been prosecuted.

4. Is there any contact number to get through to TfL prosecutions as they seem to be ignoring my emails?

I'm not aware of one.

 

[Benjwri]

It is worth checking your employment contract to see if you are required to disclose a conviction occuring during employment to your employer.

 

[iamraymond]

Also, if you are a member of a professional body, you should check their bylaws and disciplinary processes as to whether or not you need to disclose it to them.

 

[jumble]

Hi,

I was travelling through the DLR network on 28th January late after work and I had the wrong card at the top of my wallet so it didn’t work when I tapped in. I was caught by a TfL revenue inspector and was completely cooperative, his witness statement even says that I said I didn’t know the card was blocked.
The card was blocked back in 2024 but I didn’t realise and this was after a period of personal difficulty where I was mentally not staying on top of things after being made redundant and other health issues.
I have been responding to TfL and been completely cooperative but I didn’t tell them about my personal circumstances at the time as it felt unnecessary and I didn’t think they would prosecute for a ‘first time offence’ but I got an SJPN. I sent an email saying this could end my career but received no reply.

I have now sent an email across detailing all my personal circumstances: I was put at risk of redundancy on 13th Jan, 2 weeks before the incident and was working late due to this as well. I usually walk home so forgot to switch my card back to my usual one after travelling abroad. I was also going through lots of physical and mental stress as I was awaiting NHS appointments regarding endometriosis investigation, I had an appointment at the London Egg Bank for fertility preservation the morning after the incident occurred (29th Jan) all while working full time and doing a Masters on top so my head was not focused on transport on that particular evening. I have also said that I have had severe stress with the health things as I was told I needed an urgent appointment by the sonographer at the hospital but couldn’t get one for a month and a half etc and all this was going on while I was dealing with TfL. They sent me a request for final representation on 1st April but due to Easter bank holidays, I got it on 13th April and couldn’t respond before they sent out the SJPN on 14th April due to everything else going on.

They have only listed one offence on my SJPN and it is for the byelaw of being in a ticketed area without a valid ticket. I think it is so incredibly unfair to give someone a career ending criminal conviction over one missed tap during a period of severe mental stress. I have also told them I am going to therapy for all of this. My SJPN deadline is on Monday 4th May and I can’t find a way to get through to them.

1. Is there any chance they will pull my prosecution by Monday?
2. Is there any chance that the Magistrates may allow an adjournment for TfL to review my personal circumstances at the time?
3. Is there any chance that I might not be prosecuted once it gets to the magistrates if I detail all of my personal circumstances in the mitigations box?
4. Is there any contact number to get through to TfL prosecutions as they seem to be ignoring my emails?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Apr 2026 ==

Also for additional context, I was travelling from Canary Wharf DLR to All Saints DLR station and the fare was £1.80 at this point.

Can you advise if you have come to TFL's attention previously

 

[Fawkes Cat]

You have already been prosecuted

I may be misreading the thread, but OP seems to have an SJPN. So while the prosecution may have started, it hasn't finished: and while there may not be much chance of it happening, if the prosecution was withdrawn before it was completed then the OP would not have been prosecuted.

 

[blimmo]

I may be misreading the thread, but OP seems to have an SJPN. So while the prosecution may have started, it hasn't finished: and while there may not be much chance of it happening, if the prosecution was withdrawn before it was completed then the OP would not have been prosecuted.

I think the point is that OP has already been prosecuted (because TfL have started a prosecution against them) but has possibly not yet been convicted (which will happen once the SJP resolves).

 

[island]

I think the point is that OP has already been prosecuted (because TfL have started a prosecution against them) but has possibly not yet been convicted (which will happen once the SJP resolves).

Correct.