Can they do that?

memo_to_all · 04-05-2009 08:06PM #1

Got off the Luas at Jervis Street this evening and as I was walking down the platform I noticed 2 inspectors speaking to an Asian girl. As I passed I could see that one of the inspectors had taken her passport and was trying explain that they would give it back to her when she paid...obviousley she hadnt paid her fare...but I was wondering if this was legal. It was obvious the girl didnt really understand what was happening...as she looked genuine in her display of not understanding.

I felt very sorry for her...but typical Irish just walked away.
But question remains...can someone from a private company (i.e violia) take it upon themselves to sieze that girls passport?

galwayrush · 04-05-2009 08:09PM

She would have gotten way worse treatment in many other countries if she didn't pay. If it's true, all she has to do is pay the fare \ fine.

professore · 04-05-2009 08:12PM

galwayrush wrote: »

She would have gotten way worse treatment in many other countries if she didn't pay. If it's true, all she has to do is pay the fare \ fine.

So that excuses it does it? What a pathetic attitude galwayrush. They should be arrested for harassment.

SV · 04-05-2009 08:12PM

memo_to_all wrote: »

I felt very sorry for her...but typical Irish just walked away.
But question remains...can someone from a private company (i.e violia) take it upon themselves to sieze that girls passport?

No they can't.
I'd love to see them try the same with someone from Ireland(taking their identification or similar)

Quazzie · 04-05-2009 08:13PM

You should have paid the fare, gotten the passport off them and then technically you owned that girl.

I'll admit I'm no legal eagle but I'm pretty sure thats how it works.

Tech3 · 04-05-2009 08:17PM

memo_to_all wrote: »

I felt very sorry for her...but typical Irish just walked away.

So you would be one of those typical Irish people.

memo_to_all · 04-05-2009 08:20PM

I always figured that if you didnt pay a fare and your caught..they take your name, address DOB and try to verify before issueing a fine...but to actually take this girls passport just seemed a little too much.

kelle · 04-05-2009 08:21PM

If she had done that in London, she would have faced a heavy fine. They obviously seized her passport until she paid her fare, and JUST her fare - probably no penalty charge! Are there signs on the Luas stations explaining what happens on non-payment of fares?
She was lucky. I was once caught in London with an inadequate ticket (I was one station outside the zone listed on the ticket, it was a genuine mistake on my part) and they looked for a hefty penalty charge, I don't know how I did it but I really used my charm and got away with it. It took about an hour though and I nearly missed my flight. If only they had JUST seized my passport and given me time to get that money, I would have got away a lot sooner!

memo_to_all · 04-05-2009 08:21PM

tech2 wrote: »

So you would be one of those typical Irish people.

Seems that way...i just didnt know if they had the right to do that...so not having my facts straight didnt feel I was in a position to comment or intervene on her behalf.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 04-05-2009 08:21PM

Absolute bollocks! As an immigrant, she needs her passport to prove she's here legally for one thing, not to mention banking, state appointments and so on. It's a legal document you're required to have in your possession.

Taking her passport is effectively theft - I'd send a complaint to Violia stating what and when you saw - I'm pretty sure it's not in their rulebook and they'd appreciate the heads up.

seanybiker · 04-05-2009 08:21PM

Quazzie wrote: »

You should have paid the fare, gotten the passport off them and then technically you owned that girl.

I'll admit I'm no legal eagle but I'm pretty sure thats how it works.

Ha ha thats exactly what it is.

galwayrush · 04-05-2009 08:23PM

professore wrote: »

So that excuses it does it? What a pathetic attitude galwayrush. They should be arrested for harassment.

Don't attack me, i didn't say what they did was right in any way, i only said all she has to do is pay up and get her passport back.It would have been way worse in many other countries. Saw something similar happen in Italy, Police arrested the entire family and apparently fined them , then deported them.

Sharpshooter · 04-05-2009 08:24PM

I didn't think it was legal for them to do that.
I thought you were not supposed to hand over your passport to anyone, unless it was say Airport security or the police.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 04-05-2009 08:26PM

Originally Posted by Quazzie wrote:

You should have paid the fare, gotten the passport off them and then technically you owned that girl.

I'll admit I'm no legal eagle but I'm pretty sure thats how it works.

seanybiker wrote: »

Ha ha thats exactly what it is.

No, the OP is not entitled to the girl's passport! I think you have a set date by which you have to pay the fine, it's not pay on the spot. Taking the name and passport number should suffice.

Tar.Aldarion · 04-05-2009 08:40PM

No, she could have them arrested.

AnonoBoy · 04-05-2009 08:45PM

I saw that happen. But didn't hang around listening to what was going on.

Missed my chance to buy an Asian girl, damn it.

Mrs JackDaniels · 04-05-2009 08:57PM

memo_to_all wrote: »

Got off the Luas at Jervis Street this evening and as I was walking down the platform I noticed 2 inspectors speaking to an Asian girl. As I passed I could see that one of the inspectors had taken her passport and was trying explain that they would give it back to her when she paid...obviousley she hadnt paid her fare...but I was wondering if this was legal. It was obvious the girl didnt really understand what was happening...as she looked genuine in her display of not understanding.

I felt very sorry for her...but typical Irish just walked away.
But question remains...can someone from a private company (i.e violia) take it upon themselves to sieze that girls passport?

A passport is government owned and nobody has the right to take it from apart from the gardai. A bouncer took mine one night thats how I know. Sorriest thing the fcuker ever did

Snowie · 04-05-2009 09:05PM

Sharpshooter wrote: »

I didn't think it was legal for them to do that.
I thought you were not supposed to hand over your passport to anyone, unless it was say Airport security or the police.

I put my passport down on a grandss worth of snowboarding gear

:cool:

the list was

Spechil blend, 20k breathable jacket
avalanche transeaver
snowboarding boots with snake skin affect :cool:
snow shovel
Probe
Dekine helepack pro
k2 cinch carbon free ride bindings
Dragon polorised goggels

I just couldnt leave the resort till i payed it all of

Dardania · 04-05-2009 09:07PM

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

Absolute bollocks! As an immigrant, she needs her passport to prove she's here legally for one thing, not to mention banking, state appointments and so on. It's a legal document you're required to have in your possession.

Taking her passport is effectively theft - I'd send a complaint to Violia stating what and when you saw - I'm pretty sure it's not in their rulebook and they'd appreciate the heads up.

Is there a requirement in Ireland to carry your passport at all times?

m5ex9oqjawdg2i · 04-05-2009 09:09PM

memo_to_all wrote: »

Got off the Luas at Jervis Street this evening and as I was walking down the platform I noticed 2 inspectors speaking to an Asian girl. As I passed I could see that one of the inspectors had taken her passport and was trying explain that they would give it back to her when she paid...obviousley she hadnt paid her fare...but I was wondering if this was legal. It was obvious the girl didnt really understand what was happening...as she looked genuine in her display of not understanding.

I felt very sorry for her...but typical Irish just walked away.
But question remains...can someone from a private company (i.e violia) take it upon themselves to sieze that girls passport?

No, they cannot do sh!t, if anything she has the upper hand now. Civil courts would favour her.

Agent Smith · 04-05-2009 09:33PM

couldnt she hand over passport, Claim it was then stolen, and got a new one from her embassy?

(yes, i guess this would cost more then the fine itself, but work with me here people!)

Notorious · 04-05-2009 09:35PM

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

I think you have a set date by which you have to pay the fine, it's not pay on the spot. Taking the name and passport number should suffice.

Yeah they give you a slip of paper with all the info on it.

My sister got stung for not paying on the dart. She was going to pay when she got off as she didn't want to be late for college. So she tells the lad checking tickets in Pearse St. that she didn't have a ticket and could she buy her monthly now. She was handed a fine for either €50 or €100. The Mother rang up explaining that a monthly ticket was going to be bought, and since the jerk on the other end was having none of it, she told them my sister gave a false address. Fine was never paid.

miss no stars · 04-05-2009 09:43PM

Not having a ticket doesn't mean intent to not buy a ticket. I had a tourist beside me on teh LUAS before, asked me how much the fare to Hueston was when she saw the inspector coming. I told her that was an inspector, not a ticket sales man. Her response was "Well where was I supposed to buy the ticket...?"

The reality is that in a lot of countries, tickets can be purchased while on the transport in question. It's a reasonable mistake for a non native to make.

They absolutely can not take the passport btw. A lot of those inspectors are COMPLETE thugs. Wouldn't surprise me if they were taking it with intent to sell it on :rolleyes:

peanuthead · 04-05-2009 09:51PM

Sharpshooter wrote: »

I didn't think it was legal for them to do that.

It's technically illegal not to pay your fare too you know.

If the OP had've witnessed the same incident, but the inspectors were letting her off, we would be having the argument that the irish don't care and no wonder our economy is in sh*te.

miss no stars · 04-05-2009 09:53PM

People are falliable. Maybe she intended to defraud on the ticket fare, maybe it was an honest mistake. Siezing someone's passport without the authority to do so is far, far, far more serious than not paying a fare.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 04-05-2009 10:02PM

Dardania wrote: »

Is there a requirement in Ireland to carry your passport at all times?

Not nessecarily on you, but be in possession of one. Especially if you're a non-national (UK possibly excepted, not sure). If, say, the guards ask to see some picture ID and she doesn't drive, what's she supposed to do?

Raze_them_all · 04-05-2009 10:19PM

Mrs JackDaniels wrote: »

A passport is government owned and nobody has the right to take it from apart from the gardai. A bouncer took mine one night thats how I know. Sorriest thing the fcuker ever did

Bouncers can keep it and hand it into the guards if you gave your passport to someone else that clearly isn't you but not if it's yours.

but no the people had no right to.

Sharpshooter · 04-05-2009 10:33PM

peanuthead wrote: »

It's technically illegal not to pay your fare too you know.

If the OP had've witnessed the same incident, but the inspectors were letting her off, we would be having the argument that the irish don't care and no wonder our economy is in sh*te.

I still don't think they were within their rights to take it.

Not paying doesn't mean you are fare evading deliberately.

Dart station beside me often had the ticket office locked and no one around to buy the ticket from.
I used to pay at the other end, but I don't think you can do that now.

maxxie · 04-05-2009 10:44PM

happened to me in prague, I felt well hard done by as you do!

misserable bastards!

CutzEr · 04-05-2009 10:48PM

Well, if she had her passport on a bus, she is pretty confused then...

AnonoBoy · 04-05-2009 10:57PM

miss no stars wrote: »

A lot of those inspectors are COMPLETE thugs. Wouldn't surprise me if they were taking it with intent to sell it on :rolleyes:

Definitely. I heard they often abduct people that don't pay their fares and sell them into slavery in Connemara.

Complete thugs. I see fare-evaders beaten to within an inch of their life on a regular basis on the LUAS. Someone's got to stop these animals.

Can they do that?

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