checkywatch.com

[wintonian]

There appears to be a website and associated Facebook page dedicated to informing people of the current location of Metro inspectors, it is claimed that this is in protest at high fares.

I can see nothing illegal about it but I would think it is a morally questionable tactic - what do others think?

Snippet from the about page:

Checkwatch.com is a user submitted website gathering information on checkys (Metro Inspectors), The owner of this domain holds no responsibilty or incouragement of users using the information. it is all for a better travel!

 

[district]

Very amateurish site - don't think it'll catch on.

 

[wintonian]

Well Sky have already reported on it.

 

[valenta]

IMO this is a disgraceful website and should be stopped, it certainly should not be considered as a business proposition. There is already lots of money lost by the metro each year because people do not buy tickets, the last thing needed is for something to be created to make it even easier for people not to buy tickets.

 

[district]

Well Sky have already reported on it.

Didn't see that - nor the FB page. Hope Nexus are able to deal with it.

 

[ainsworth74]

Snippet from the about page:

That's the only thing that's readable on the about page, has this guy heard of paragraphs?!

 

[wintonian]

That's the only thing that's readable on the about page, has this guy heard of paragraphs?!

I just realised something, and I know my spelling is bad but surely he can get the spelling of his own website correct?

Checkwatch.com is a user submitted website gathering information on checkys (Metro Inspectors), The owner of this domain holds no responsibilty or incouragement of users using the information. it is all for a better travel!

 

[valenta]

I've been mulling over the legality of the website, I suppose that it is not illegal to be saying where the inspectors are, however it is promoting illegal activity (travelling without a ticket).
People have to accept that travelling on any form of transport costs money, and therefore if they use the transport they should contribute.
Hopefully this idea will be put to bed quickly so it does not get any more publicity via media organisations.

 

[wintonian]

I've been mulling over the legality of the website, I suppose that it is not illegal to be saying where the inspectors are, however it is promoting illegal activity (travelling without a ticket).

That is the same conclusion I came to after writing my original post, that is assuming it is promoting fare evasion and that is not something I am qualified to adjudicate on.

 

[Lewisham2221]

The mobile version of the site does feature "Please buy a ticket if you ride the metro" in reasonably big text at the foot of each page.

 

[WestCoast]

The Facebook page seems to have a lot of activity, with people boasting about not paying and/or saying that not paying is some form of protest. Also many insults directed towards inspectors, who are just doing their job.

Most Metro fares are not unreasonable IMO, if users did a comparison around the country.

 

[district]

It's not just promoting fare evasion... a lot of posts encourage people to assault the inspectors, and insult them - IANAL but could this potentially be constituting malicious communications?

http://tyneandwear.sky.com/news/article/43625

 

[wintonian]

It's not just promoting fare evasion... a lot of posts encourage people to assault the inspectors, and insult them - IANAL but could this potentially be constituting malicious communications?

http://tyneandwear.sky.com/news/article/43625

Well we might as well also link directly to the "founders" interview.

 

[radamfi]

Surely having speed camera sites saved in your satellite navigation system is the same, if not worse, yet no one is suggesting that is illegal or immoral. Speeding can potentially kill someone, unlike fare dodging.

 

[snail]

Surely having speed camera sites saved in your satellite navigation system is the same, if not worse, yet no one is suggesting that is illegal or immoral. Speeding can potentially kill someone, unlike fare dodging.

Isn't that equivalent to posting the locations of barrier checks? Saying 'you may be checked here' is different to 'there are people here now'.

The police don't always agree with people warning others of speed traps...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-12115179

 

[CC 72100]

The mobile version of the site does feature "Please buy a ticket if you ride the metro" in reasonably big text at the foot of each page.

In which case, then what is the purpose of the site? If you have a ticket, surely you would not be concerned about where revenue protection are?

(Not getting at you at all, just pointing out how a site which provides locations of RPIs goes hand in hand with people trying to avoid being caught)

 

[Temple Meads]

The mobile version of the site does feature "Please buy a ticket if you ride the metro" in reasonably big text at the foot of each page.

I reckon that's just a way of getting out of certain legal situations, the site would be absolutely pointless if the users had tickets...

Speeding can potentially kill someone, unlike fare dodging.

It's not the speed that kills people, it's the sudden stop

Seriously though, fare dodgers can be rather reckless in their attempts to evade being checked, and evaders have been known to be violent towards railway staff when caught in the past.

 

[WestCoast]

Surely having speed camera sites saved in your satellite navigation system is the same, if not worse, yet no one is suggesting that is illegal or immoral..

Actually the French Government would disagree, it's illegal to have fixed or mobile speed camera alerts activated on your sat-nav device or phone app in France now.

To be honest, I can't see the actual site working, especially as anyone can post. Someone at Nexus could, in theory, set off false alerts.

The Facebook page is probably more of a concern.

 

[Eagle]

Someone at Nexus could, in theory, set off false alerts.

The temptation to just spamflood the site with random fake reports is overwhelming :P

 

[jon0844]

Yeah I just did to see how it worked!

 

[wintonian]

The temptation to just spamflood the site with random fake reports is overwhelming :P

I had considered it but I've only been to Newcastle once and was too busy at a conference to have a clue how about the layout or how the Metro works.

I couldn't even work out ho to buy a ticket at Sunderland.

 

[Tomonthetrain]

I did a couple to confuse people

 

[wintonian]

I'm finding that you need to read the Facebook page with a Geordie accent to understand it!

 

[ainsworth74]

I'm finding that you need to read the Facebook page with a Geordie accent to understand it!

A current post on Facebook is advising people about the replacement bus service between some stations due to 'modernisation work'. Someone underneath has commented:

******** to the modernisation ... They should concentrate on a making the service reliable

The irony, I think it's burnt me...

 

[wintonian]

A current post on Facebook is advising people about the replacement bus service between some stations due to 'modernisation work'. Someone underneath has commented:



The irony, I think it's burnt me...

There does seem to be a slight shortage of sandwiches for picnics there.

 

[bluenoxid]

I'm finding that you need to read the Facebook page with a Geordie accent to understand it!

It's just a shame that the f word has to be in every post.

 

[Tomonthetrain]

There does seem to be a slight shortage of sandwiches for picnics there.

A few carriages short of a 153!

 

[flymo]

I'm finding that you need to read the Facebook page with a Geordie accent to understand it!

I've got one and speak fluent Geordie....Crikey !! Still have difficulty translating some of them....

 

[jon0844]

A few carriages short of a 153!

Yup, they're definitely off the pace(r).

 

[Jonny]

Mind you, it's only become public knowledge since it hit the news...