DART Fines appeals system

leposean

A quick question for those who may know more about the system that I do.

Today I was with my girlfriend and got on the train, it was in the station as we got there in Dun Laoghaire and the next one was not for some time so we got on with only one of us having a ticket with the (honest) full intention to pay in Bray. Both of us have done this on many an occasion and have never had a problem.

Tonight however the Rail Protection crew were on the train and while I explained and offered to pay the money, had no problem doing so as I was to pay in Bray.

He was very polite and understood but still had his job to do and explained to me how to appeal and explain it all.

Do people know if I appeal if theres any chance or what the chances are of my appeal being upheld

foggy_lad

Very little chance as you did not have a valid ticket, if you had a weekly or monthly ticket for the period then production of this would cancel the fine.

leposean

Would the fact that my partner who was with me was quite unwell and we didnt want to wait around another 20 minutes for a train.

Top this off with thre fact we travel between Lusk and Bray regularly, the machines and booking office at Lusk are usually closed/broken and we simply pay when we get to Bray.

Im just disgusted that such a simply explained incident, with good reason and a complete willingless to pay and having no problem doing so that I should still havge to pay a 100euro fine

goingnowhere

Dun Laoghaire is always staffed, has two ticket machines, so plenty of opportunity to get a ticket, you choose not to.

You arrived without allowing reasonable time to obtain a ticket, you did not have a valid ticket, you got caught.

Everyone is willing to pay when they get caught, was there a reasonable opportunity to buy a ticket before boarding -> yes

No chance of appeal, you broke the law

BrianD

Jeez, I'm tired of reading these hardship stories when somebody gets caught.

You know you have to have a ticket on a train. When you board a train for whatever reason without a ticket you have decided to accept the risk. Getting my sick girlfriend home is worth the risk of being caught and a 45 fine.

You accepted the risk, it went against you and now it's time to pay up. Recommend you do it and get on with life.

I have also come conclusion that the fine amount is not the issue, Irish people just do not like being caught and have to admit that they are wrong. It's endemic in this society from the top down.

foggy_lad

A letter from the A&E department of a hospital dated and timed just after your dart journey might sway things in your favour otherwise Irish Rail do not know anything of your partners health and wellbeing.

You travelled without a valid ticket and as things currently stand within Irish Rail as it currently exists the fine/penalty will stand.

leposean

leposean wrote: »

Im just disgusted that such a simply explained incident, with good reason and a complete willingless to pay and having no problem doing so that I should still havge to pay a 100euro fine

Everyone who gets caught without a ticket is willing to pay their fare instead of the fine. So if the inspectors took that as an excuse, everyone would get off. Plus no one would pay for tickets anymore, because sure they can pay if they get caught.

That's why fines are serious, because if they were a low amount, or if people got let off all the time, no one with an ounce of common sense would pay fare at the station.

If anything, you should count yourself lucky, and the rail staff generous, that you've been allowed to pay at Bray so many times before and never been given a problem.

BrianD

How do you pay at the end of your journey?

Victor

Consider offering to buy a couple of monthly tickets to show your good intentions.

leposean

BrianD wrote: »

How do you pay at the end of your journey?

There are times when the station we usually get on at, Rush and Lusk and the machine isnt working and the station isnt staffed. When we arrive in Bray we simply say to the staff what the situation is and they take payment there and issue a ticket there