Court summon for tv licence

MOD: Moved from AH where the post will not be taken seriously

Going to court is the right thing to do, failing that a written letter handed in for the judge explaining the reason for your absence and regret for not having last year's licence, adding that you now have a valid TV licence and apologise to the court for taking up their time.

Or explain to them, that you don't want RTE or T+G and to stick it up their hole..!!

I assume you subscribe to Sky, Cable, or some other paid for content?

Why should you be forced to pay for something you didn't ask for?

The TV Licence was relevant when radio & television was first established, like everything else, that sector has evolved beyond recognition today..

People can now pick and choose what they pay to watch - Not what they are told to watch!

So unlikely that to suggest that it might happen is nonsense. Quoting the case of the guy parking illegally outside an A&E department and not showing up in court simply proves my point - the judge fined him and did not issue an arrest warrant. That advice you read on Citizens' Information was far too general.

Yes, a district court judge can issue an arrest warrant for someone who does not show up but this typically only happens if there is a strong possibility that the offence alleged on the summons will result in a jail sentence.

The OP had no TV licence on the day and has no excuse for not having one so a conviction and fine is pretty much guaranteed. What would be the point in paying a solicitor - what are they going to say in pleading? If your answer is that his fine will be lower because the judge will give hm credit for being legally represented, my response is that the reduction in the fine will not cover the solicitor's fee.

You don’t seem to appreciate the wide jurisdiction of the district court, or the variance that exists across the country. If an individual is summonsed to attend they must attend in person, or at the very least be represented - by a solicitor that is. You don’t send ‘someone’ to show up in court on your behalf. It would look foolish and the individual is unlikely to be heard.

As regards the outcome, it is entirely incorrect to assume that the matter is a foregone conclusion before the case has even been presented. There are various reasons why the matter could potentially be struck out - was there even a television set on the premises at the time of the alleged offence?

Citizens Information? I don’t follow where this comes into it? If you are suggesting that OP should seek advice on the matter, that would probably be a good idea certainly.

Most people would see an arrest warrant as being a much less serious occurrence than a disqualification order arising from a parking offence. My point being that the OP should show up or be represented.

Water charges were the law, until a significant majority said 'you work for us, we aren't accepting this charge, stick it up your drainpipe'. And it disappeared, at no loss to anyone who never paid a cent.

Yes, I accept that the TV Licence is a very long established levy, but perhaps its time it wasn't here anymore. And only disobedience by a lot of people will rid us of it.

I think the TV levy is a little different. It's been accepted for too long and if you want public broadcasting, all be it state-owned then they will pursue it.

There's absolutely no chance of that happening though. Even the politicians lambasting RTÉ lately have been saying that (toy show musical aside) everything RTÉ produces is vitally necessary and needs to be invested in.

It's a FIFA-esque "oh we've gotten rid of that tiny number of bad apples at the top-now we can go back to business as usual, hand over the money please"

A significant chunk of the population are excused from paying for a licence, including the ones politicians etc are most afraid of, the grey haired brigade.

The "people that get up early" and afraid of a (ridiculous imo) criminal record will, as with everything else, foot the bill. They will suck it up, time and time again. They haven't the time or the energy to protest.

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You'll get a day out in court then. I am as angry about the RTE fiasco as everyone else is but the laws the law.

@kimmage

Buy the TV licence before court date and bring it along to show the judge- you MIGHT be lucky by just doing that

Hello folks - first time posting is a long time so forgive me if this is the wrong place - I've an interesting scenario here. I moved into my new house during Covid. I never got a license and never really heard anything about it during the Covid years. When Covid ended I started getting letters about it address to "the householder". Never did anything about it. Fast forward to May 2023, and the sneaky TV license inspector calls round. I open the door ..... explain "I've just moved in" and I'll get one sorted. He asks my name, I give a similar name but not my own. A couple more reminders come in, in the fake name, return to sender. Today I get a summons, registered post, didn't check the name beforehand but it's in the fake name. What does one do? It's a summons for someone who doesn't exist. I can hardly show up to court pretending I'm someone else. Do I leave it be? Wait for a fine to be issued, garda to knock on my door and then tell them they've got the got wrong person. Any advice appreciated? Thanks.

Why should you get off not having a license by showing you now have a license when appearing in court. Whether we like it or not the law is the law.

Would we accepted people summoned to court not having car insurance and their case struck out because the since got insured?

It's hardly the same thing...