Luas Fine - Leaving Ireland in a Week

bndsoxfan

Hello everyone,

I am a student from the United States, and today on the LUAS I received a ticket for my 30 day pass being expired. I genuinely did not realize it had expired, but the officer had no sympathy for me and gave me the ticket.

The thing is, I am leaving back to America in less than a week's time. The only information they have on me is the name of the student apartment complex I am staying at, and my leap card number, which also links me back to the student apartment complex. In order to contact me while I am home in the States, they would have to contact the apartment complex and get my information, which in turn directs them to my internship program, who could then provide my USA address. Seems like a lot of trouble for them to go through.

Would anyone recommend that I simply leave Ireland and ignore the ticket? Does anyone have experience with this sort of situation? Or would they really go through the trouble to track me down? I do not want to risk a greater fine, but the 45 euro fine is really going to hurt me right now. Any feedback is much appreciated.

discus

Always worth paying these things. You'll likely never end up in jail or anything silly like that, but there's always the chance you'll be embarrassed at some stage in the future. Never know, you might end up back here working at some stage.

TheBandicoot

Given you are American and the insane background checks and credit checks you guys go through over there, it might be worth paying it just so it doesn't show up in some report years down the line.

Layinghen

If you were home in the States you would pay the fine. Here you should pay the fine as well.

goingnowhere

Pay up, can be done online

If you fail to pay, it will go to court. If you fail to show up you could have a bench warrant for your arrest issued or be fined up to 1000 euro in your absence. That's worst case.

Could be fun next time you go through immigration upon arrival in Ireland, if a bench warrant is outstanding...

cgcsb

It could come back to haunt you if you return to ANY EU member state.

purplepanda

cgcsb wrote: »

It could come back to haunt you if you return to ANY EU member state.

Highly unlikely given the very lax & understaffed security & border controls currently operated by most EU countries. :pac:

Their US counterparts seem to far more strict in this regard. Especially on international flights to & from North America.

Lombardo86

Without telling anybody what to do - I would not pay the fine in your shoes.

On the other side of things, if i faced a fine in America, i would absolutely pay it as I believe the records/enforcement America has in these situations is far superior to Ireland.

Strumms

Just pay the fine... The fact that you didn't realise isn't an excuse at all. Your personal circumstances be it a student, unemployed person, one legged gypsy etc are not relevant at all. All be it I can see what you want people to tell you here in response by dangling the 'poor student' angle. In truth you were most likely planning not to pay and get away with it until your return in a weeks time. Ai suggest you did realise, you certainly should have realised, it's called personal responsibility, so just be done with it and pay the fine... #1 because it's the right thing to do and #2 as others have outlined you don't want this hanging over you in case they do decide to pursue you now or at a potential return to Ireland.

corktina

If you end up with a Criminal Record you wont be able to do things like go to the Stat.......wait, I see a problem!.....

Pay up would be my advice.

SpaceTime

Definitely pay it.

They'll quite possibly eventually sell it onto a debt collection agency who could quite possibly pursue it in the US together with hefty extra fees as collection costs, interest etc mounts.

If it ended up in court in Ireland and you failed to respond to a summons you could be opening a whole load of legal nonsense for no good reason other than avoiding paying a public transport fine.

You can just pay online with a credit or debit card.

It's a standard fare notice. Basically your ticket bought from the machine or a pass gives you a discounted fare and if you use the system without a ticket you pay a hefty standard fare.

https://payments.luas.ie/FinePayment.aspx

Tobyglen

If you don't pay you'll end up having to live with Larry Murphy.

n97 mini

corktina wrote: »

If you end up with a Criminal Record you wont be able to do things like go to the Stat.......wait, I see a problem!.....

Pay up would be my advice.

Small fines like this and lesser motoring related fines (incl ones that went to court for non payment) don't count and won't affect anything.

OP, you should pay, however if you don't pay it's not likely it will make any difference to anything other than your wallet.

Monkeysgomad

bndsoxfan wrote: »

Hello everyone,

I am a student from the United States, and today on the LUAS I received a ticket for my 30 day pass being expired. I genuinely did not realize it had expired, but the officer had no sympathy for me and gave me the ticket.

The thing is, I am leaving back to America in less than a week's time. The only information they have on me is the name of the student apartment complex I am staying at, and my leap card number, which also links me back to the student apartment complex. In order to contact me while I am home in the States, they would have to contact the apartment complex and get my information, which in turn directs them to my internship program, who could then provide my USA address. Seems like a lot of trouble for them to go through.

Would anyone recommend that I simply leave Ireland and ignore the ticket? Does anyone have experience with this sort of situation? Or would they really go through the trouble to track me down? I do not want to risk a greater fine, but the 45 euro fine is really going to hurt me right now. Any feedback is much appreciated.

Dont pay the fine, go home!! Ireland wont check it when your leaving the country and it was just a mistake, if i were u i wouldnt pay that fine id leave.

Losty Dublin

n97 mini wrote: »

Small fines like this and lesser motoring related fines (incl ones that went to court for non payment) don't count and won't affect anything.

OP, you should pay, however if you don't pay it's not likely it will make any difference to anything other than your wallet.

They do count though it's not as if you will be chased by Interpol for them. What is serious is when bench warrants are issued and you try to enter the Jurisdiction.

ireland.man

If you're financial situation is as bad as you say and it was all a genuine mistake, I wonder is it worthwhile to email the company and explain the situation and ask for a discount/ cancellation of the standard fare? If they know you're in the States and repayment is unlikely, they might be more flexible.