First time offence

[Yasmin1234]

Please can anyone advice me on what I should do I feel sick to my stomach for such an offence.
I genuinely am remorseful.

To whom this may concern,

I am looking for the appropriate email address to email TFL my deepest apology. Unfortunately I have been searching, and I can't find any relevant email addresses to email. Please could you advice me as to what I should do in my situation, this is the first offence I have committed I used a child travel card for one stop and then TFL inspectors came aboard and I was subjected to a frightening interrogation. Almost immediately I regretted my reckless offence I committed and have pleaded with a fine to reimburse the TFL for my actions. This all happened today at 26/03/14 - 13:30pm.

Could you also advice, will I be prosecuted for my actions and taken to court for this horrible predicament I have put myself in? the email below is the one I have sent to two different emails


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Dear Sir/Madam,

I am emailing you in regards, to a unfortunate event that accord early today 26/03/14 at 13:30pm on the bus to which I unfortunately can't remember.

I foolishly took a bus for one stop from, the Burroughs (NW4) bus stop to Hendon Central with a child travel-card, I was stopped by the ticket inspectors of TFL. As a 21 year old student who is deeply ashamed, I regret this very serious offence I plead whole-heartedly towards the governing body of TFL to please accept, firstly my willingness to pay any fines incurred by TFL for my reckless actions and secondly my sincere oath to never commit such a inconsiderate act ever again.

As I have stated before there is no excuse to commit such a distasteful crime, but please also take into account, that with the recent passing of my grandmother I haven't been in a "correct frame of mind" feeling quite hopelessness is one word to describe how I felt today and thus led me to commit such an offence.

Again I do only hope, that this email shows that I will never commit such a distasteful act, and plead to show my remorse by reimbursing for my actions by paying a penalty fair notice.

 

[mikeg]

First of all I would suggest that you write a letter rather than an email and send it first class, preferably recorded. Emails can often go unread, a letter carries more gravitas, you can sign it and it is better verifiable. I also suggest you don't use emotive terms such as 'Frightening interrogation'. They were just doing their job. Edit: I notice that was aimed at us, not TfL.
Thirdly, TfL have a record of being less likely to settle out of court than the private TOCs, but this doesn't mean it's not worth a try!
Furthermore, if they do settle expect it to be more than a penalty fare. A penalty fare would apply if it was an honest mistake, such as accidentally using the wrong travelcard. It appears that you deliberately avoided paying the correct fare, a more serious matter.


I'm sure someone more experienced in this area will be along soon to help with the letter writing.

Further edit: I have just noticed that the offence occurred yesterday. I don't think anything can be done until the letter comes from them to you. Best to sit tight for now and wait for the letter to arrive.

 

[Greenback]

I agree that it is better to wait until you receive correspondence, as this will allow any reply to be more informed.

I also agree that any reply should be by traditional letter rather than by email. It should also be unemotional and factual.

If you have sent the email you copied above to TfL, you have admitted being guilty of a serious offence, and indicated you will be happy to pay any fines (which can only be inposed by a court). TfL may read this as you saying you are happy to be prosecuted and to receive the punishment because you know that you are guilty and have done wrong.

 

[Yasmin1234]

Hi,

I have contacted IRACs who told me I have an MG11 so intended prosecution waiting for me.
I called up the the prosecutions officers have requested to pay an out of court settlement via email and telephone.
I'm waiting for a response I have stated that this could lead to unemployment Nd ruin my life and I have promised to reimburse any fines that's needs to be paid.
I just don't know what the outcome is likely to be I hope they accept my apology.

 

[TheEdge]

If you have already sent that email you have given them everything they need to go for a full on prosecution, in short admitting to knowingly using a child ticket at the age of 21.

Would you be so sorry if you'd not been caught?

 

[Greenback]

I'm waiting for a response I have stated that this could lead to unemployment Nd ruin my life and I have promised to reimburse any fines that's needs to be paid.

It's really not a good idea to be emotional and come up with stuff like 'ruining my life'. Sorry to be blunt, but it's all been heard before and will, if anything, be mor elikely to work against you than in your favour.

I just don't know what the outcome is likely to be I hope they accept my apology.

They are under no obligation to accept your apology or to settle out of court. In view of the nature of the offence, and what you've told them, it appears to be an open and shut case which may just persuade them to make an example of you in court.

You'll just have to wait and see what the decision is, I'm afraid, but I would urge to prepare yourself for the worst. Come back when you've had the response and let us know what is happening. We may be able to offer you good advice then, at the moment it seems like there's little we can do.

 

[island]

I'm not sure why you're posting about a bus incident on Railforums.co.uk, but unfortunately I don't have very good news for you. TfL and its subsidiaries, being publicly owned, are known to prosecute cases like this rather than settle, as they do not have a profit aim.

Perhaps you will get lucky. You never know.

 

[Yasmin1234]

Hi,

I am hoping for the best possible outcome.
I do acknowledge what I have done was belligerent but as a human weren't perfect I am still young and being this is the first. Crime I have ever committed I genuinely don't want this to be held against me once I do go for job interviews.
If worst comes to worst I will consider hiring a lawyer for this matter. One question I do have is this a civil matter or an actual criminal matter like points on your license. Ect

 

[island]

Avoiding a bus fare is a criminal matter.

 

[455driver]

Hi,

I am hoping for the best possible outcome.
I do acknowledge what I have done was belligerent but as a human weren't perfect I am still young and being this is the first crime I have ever committed I genuinely don't want this to be held against me once I do go for job interviews.

So you have never bought a child ticket for the bus before then, if this is your first crime?
Or do you mean this is the first time you have been caught?

If worst comes to worst I will consider hiring a lawyer for this matter. One question I do have is this a civil matter or an actual criminal matter like points on your license. Ect

It is a criminal matter with all the options open to the judge/magistrate.

 

[transmanche]

From what it I understand, they haven't given you a penalty fare. So they must feel they have the evidence to pursue a prosecution - i.e. they feel this is deliberate fare evasion rather than an honest mistake.

But if you are a student (as you claim) then you'd be entitled to an 18+ Student Oyster card, which enables you to purchase discounted Travelcards anyway. Which makes it even more foolish to do what you did!

 

[DaveNewcastle]

This is what I think any investigator would want to understand:-

So you have never bought a child ticket for the bus before then, if this is your first crime?
Or do you mean this is the first time you have been caught?

The loss of the grandmother is blamed for the choice of a cheaper fare - as a recent incident. Are we saying that on the days when grandmother was alive that the adult fare was always paid?

I would want some clearer explanation of the apparent coincidence that on the one day when 1) the grandmother dies, 2) an adult selects a child fare, and 3) the inspectors are on duty, all at once on the day when "this is the first crime I have ever committed".

Or perhaps it wasn't.

 

[jon0844]

I am still young and being this is the first. Crime I have ever committed I genuinely don't want this to be held against me once I do go for job interviews.

As you haven't posted your full name on here, you can be honest with us.

Given TfL have so few inspectors, was this REALLY the first and only time you've done it?

If so, you are perhaps the unluckiest bus passenger in the whole of London, ever.

 

[Yasmin1234]

Hi,
I just wanted to write back tfl have accepted my out of court settlement plea, I want to say I have learnt my lesson and never ever will put myself into this predicament again!!
Also to make a quick side note to all young foolish students that genuinely believe that they can get away with this please don't put your whole life into jeopardy. Follow the law, be the upholding citizen you can be and lastly be genuine and remorseful if you was in a bad situation explain to tfl they'll be understanding.

 

[bb21]

Thank you for letting us know.

I am sure you will be more careful in the future.