Question about TV licence and An Post inspector that visited...

valdigre

Boys and girls,

2 of my friends are sharing an apartment in a closed apartment block and have a TV which is used only for Xbox and for the PC. No UPC, no satelite, no tv reception whatsoever.

Well, they don't pay tv licence as they refuse to pay money for RTE salaries if they don't give a damn about Irish tv or any other tv, for that matter.

Not so long ago, however, inspector came to their door step, knocked and they opened the door. They said they don't have a TV but when inspector asked if he can enter the apartment and confirm, they refused. He said that he would return. Don't remember the details now, either he said that he would return with Gardai or a warrant.

The question is now, what are the possible consequences/scenarios?

Any of you came across this kind of situation? Can they return with Gardai officers and search the apartment? If they do, what happens when they find a tv, not receiving any channels, though?

As the ad used to say, if you have a tv, you must have a tv licence.

The defence that they never even watched Fair City is of no use.

You can't refuse a search on foot of a warrant. Well you can try, but you'd be in a lot more trouble. The solution is simple, you go to the post office tomorrow and pay for a licence.

Fr_Dougal

Gardai will arrive and inspect the property. They will make a note of the presence of a Tv and then a summons will be issued.

SEPT 23 1989

Fr_Dougal wrote: »

Gardai will arrive and inspect the property. They will make a note of the presence of a Tv and then a summons will be issued.

or maybe they will have better things to do with their time or maybe not

Sir Osis of Liver.

MountJoy is lovely at this time of year.

bjork

That was a fake mustache he was wearing


Ohh if you lied to the TV inspector about not having a licence average sentence 4 years. The next knock on the door will be the Gardai to bring you off. Say you goodbyes now while you still have time

Yellowblackbird

This is a Federal matter. No ordinary police.
Some morning before you've even woken up, the Emergency Military Police will make an insersion into your front garden. Having cleared the area of any enemies they will peek through your living room blinds. Take note of the television set.

You, Jeff and Mary will be playing xbox at the county jail from here on out.

MadDog76

valdigre wrote: »

Boys and girls,

2 of my friends are sharing an apartment in a closed apartment block and have a TV which is used only for Xbox and for the PC. No UPC, no satelite, no tv reception whatsoever.

Well, they don't pay tv licence as they refuse to pay money for RTE salaries if they don't give a damn about Irish tv or any other tv, for that matter.

Not so long ago, however, inspector came to their door step, knocked and they opened the door. They said they don't have a TV but when inspector asked if he can enter the apartment and confirm, they refused. He said that he would return. Don't remember the details now, either he said that he would return with Gardai or a warrant.

The question is now, what are the possible consequences/scenarios?

Any of you came across this kind of situation? Can they return with Gardai officers and search the apartment? If they do, what happens when they find a tv, not receiving any channels, though?

Eh ......... unplug the TV and remove it from the apartment for a few days if you (or they) are that worried about it?

valdigre

Haha, ok.

So I presume the best advice for them would be to just pay and forget about it?

Does it usually take long before the guy visits the property again with warrant/gardai? What is no one is inside or no one opens the door?

I presume they do not call in Special forces

Grays Sports Almanac

Are they qualified to own a TV? You can't just go out and buy a licence if you're unqualified...

bjork

valdigre wrote: »

.........

I presume they do not call in Special forces

They call in the aerial team

Menas

Grays Sports Almanac wrote: »

Are they qualified to own a TV? You can't just go out and buy a licence if you're unqualified...

Stupid post. You have to put an L plate in the dining room window when you first get a licence.

bobmalooka

valdigre wrote: »

Haha, ok.

So I presume the best advice for them would be to just pay and forget about it?

Does it usually take long before the guy visits the property again with warrant/gardai? What is no one is inside or no one opens the door?

I presume they do not call in Special forces

Not just as simple as paying, they'll have to do 12 mandatory lessons and pass their TV test first.

valdigre

I presume the first two answers are closest to the truth...

Thanks for the laughs, though.

Panthro

Sell the TV and buy a massive monitor.
Or a projector.
Or buy the cops silence.
Just tell them to throw as much money at the problem as they can until the problem eventually goes away!

VinLieger

Panthro wrote: »

Sell the TV and buy a massive monitor.
Or a projector.
Or buy the cops silence.
Just tell them to throw as much money at the problem as they can until the problem eventually goes away!

This until the new version of the broadcast charge comes in they can only get you if you specifically have a tv, computer monitors and projectors are not legislated for yet

shruikan2553

From experience in a few weeks you'll get a letter about them getting a search warrant. Another few weeks later they might actually do something. I moved out before they came around for a visit but I would image there are a lot more people in Limerick above me on the list.

ardmacha

shruikan2553 wrote: »

but I would image there are a lot more people in Limerick above me on the list.

and not all of these for a TV licence!

Dog of Tears

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

or maybe they will have better things to do with their time or maybe not

Yep, any visit to a District Court when it's in session will confirm that they never summon people for not having a TV license, other than the couple of dozen people that they do.

Oink

valdigre wrote: »

my friends [...] have a TV

[...] they don't pay tv licence

[...] he said that he would return with Gardai or a warrant.

[...] what happens when they find a tv

For convenience's sake I removed everything in the post that the judge and the guards won't give a shlt about.

I suggest that your friends make sure they're not breaking the law when the guards get there. To answer your question I heard in the news that they invite people from all over the country to visit Mountjoy for a few hours at least.