Questions about Fixed Penalty Notices

[anonymoustrain]

Will keep this short! There’s not a lot of information online so insight would be helpful.

1. How long do rail companies have to issue a Fixed Penalty Notice after an alleged offence took place? eg could someone be prosecuted in December for an invalid ticket in June?

2. If you query an FPN (or “representation” as Northern calls it) does it then move straight to court? Or do you have one more chance to pay it if they reject your argument?

Thank you

 

[skyhigh]

How long do rail companies have to issue a Fixed Penalty Notice after an alleged offence took place? eg could someone be prosecuted in December for an invalid ticket in June?

They have 6 months to prosecute from the date of the offence. They can issue a penalty notice at any point they want, though if it's over 6 months since the offence there is little they can do if you don't pay it.

2. If you query an FPN (or “representation” as Northern calls it) does it then move straight to court? Or do you have one more chance to pay it if they reject your argument?

There is no formal appeal process. If you are getting close to the 6 month deadline or make it clear you're not paying they will probably just go straight to court. There is the risk however that even if they don't move to court that they will increase the costs they are asking you to pay if they have to spend more time dealing with your communications.

 

[WesternLancer]

Will keep this short! There’s not a lot of information online so insight would be helpful.

1. How long do rail companies have to issue a Fixed Penalty Notice after an alleged offence took place? eg could someone be prosecuted in December for an invalid ticket in June?

2. If you query an FPN (or “representation” as Northern calls it) does it then move straight to court? Or do you have one more chance to pay it if they reject your argument?

Thank you

Is this Northern Rail?

FPNs seem to be something they have ‘invented’ as a streamlined method of offering what is essentially an out of court settlement to people. It’s worse than a penalty fare as no right of appeal nor prompt payment 50% discount. But better than being found guilty in court.

I suppose if it is felt that no ticket infringement was in fact made that could be put to them in the hope they would withdraw the FPN but you’d probably need to give more info for experts here to check that for you.