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Can a tv licence inspector come into your driveway and look in your front window?

  • 15-06-2019 8:29pm
    #1
    paleoperson
    Registered Users Posts: 3,522 ✭✭✭


    I've spent a long time searching trying to find this out and finally just said to hell with it, I'll ask here.

    I'm expecting a visit from the friendly tv licence inspector some day and it's giving me a bit of anxiety. I keep hearing this thing about "can he look through the front window and see a tv", and the answer is not from a public area no. But could he reasonably walk around the side of the house and peer in?

    I've heard of them being very persistent and aggressive, but he wouldn't have the gall to come up to the front window on my property and look inside with me and the tv in there would he? There is absolutely no public area such as the road he can see a tv from.

    He would have to willfully go past the front door and walk along the side of the house until he came to the front window. Alternatively he could park in the driveway, get out of the car and look in. But if you're in a driveway uninvited you're already trespassing right?

    Can they get a warrant to search the house on probable cause?


«1

Comments

  • #2
    callaway92
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,837 ✭✭✭✭callaway92


    Or you know.. just pay your TV licence


  • #3
    lbc2019
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,291 ✭✭✭lbc2019


    I paid mine by monthly direct debit- easy


  • #4
    dxhound2005
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,386 ✭✭✭✭dxhound2005


    Did you enquire here?

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=63911780


  • #5
    cml387
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,492 ✭✭✭cml387


    h7DD57DD2


  • #6
    Glass fused light
    Registered Users Posts: 1,576 ✭✭✭Glass fused light


    Erm... if your front window is at the side of your house where are your side windows?


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  • #7
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 5,311 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    paleoperson wrote: »
    Can they get a warrant to search the house on probable cause?

    The TV licence inspector has to prove that live broadcasts are being watched. And when the warrant is obtained, they must be accompanied by a member of An Garda Siochána.

    Which would represent a needless waste of public resources.


  • #8
    dxhound2005
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,386 ✭✭✭✭dxhound2005


    When you go to jail for not paying the fine, don't come on here saying you were sent to jail for not having a TV licence.


  • #9
    paleoperson
    Registered Users Posts: 3,522 ✭✭✭paleoperson


    dxhound2005 wrote: »
    Did you enquire here?

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=63911780

    I have now, thanks!
    Glass fused light wrote: »
    Erm... if your front window is at the side of your house where are your side windows?

    We kind of call the south-facing side of the house the front as it's next to the driveway. We have no windows facing the road, but the front door is facing the road. So it's like there's two sides of the house that are called the front. I never thought of it like that before.
    Deleted User wrote: »
    The TV licence inspector has to prove that live broadcasts are being watched. And when the warrant is obtained, they must be accompanied by a member of An Garda Siochána.

    Which would represent a needless waste of public resources.

    Any strategies for getting them to piss off? For example would rudeness cause them to be more harsh or less likely to return?


  • #10
    Stark
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,034 ✭✭✭✭Stark


    Deleted User wrote: »
    The TV licence inspector has to prove that live broadcasts are being watched.

    Have you got something to back that up?

    This is the text from citizeninformation.ie
    If your household, business or institution possesses a television or equipment capable of receiving a television signal, you are required by law to have a television licence. Even if the television or other equipment is broken and currently unable to receive a signal, it is regarded as capable of being repaired so it can receive a signal and you must hold a licence for it.


  • #11
    kneemos
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,450 ✭✭✭✭kneemos


    Become a TV License Inspector. They were looking for recruits recently.


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  • #12
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    The Broadcasting Act 2009 states:

    "146 (3) An officer of an issuing agent may enter at any reasonable time any premises or specified place for the purposes of ascertaining whether there is a television set there and a television licence is for the time being in force in respect of the premises or specified place authorising the keeping of a television set at the premises or specified place."


  • #13
    Church on Tuesday
    Registered Users Posts: 3,858 ✭✭✭Church on Tuesday


    callaway92 wrote: »
    Or you know.. just pay your TV licence

    It's hardly worth it for the ****e RTÉ churn out and Love Island...


  • #14
    Glass fused light
    Registered Users Posts: 1,576 ✭✭✭Glass fused light


    paleoperson wrote: »

    Any strategies for getting them to piss off? For example would rudeness cause them to be more harsh or less likely to return?

    Garlic lots of garlic.
    ......













    Always wear a suit and tie and well polished shoes.
    Eat lots of garlic everyday.
    ....










    Greet them with a big hug and ask them if they have been saved yet.
    ....







    (The next part might be tricky if you have a TV)
    ....


    Invite them in for a long discussion
    .....


  • #15
    Stark
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,034 ✭✭✭✭Stark


    Don't forget they're powerless without their hat. No wait, that's the Gardaí.


  • #16
    _Brian
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,617 ✭✭✭✭_Brian


    Ares Wailing Pavement wrote: »
    The Broadcasting Act 2009 states:

    "146 (3) An officer of an issuing agent may enter at any reasonable time any premises or specified place for the purposes of ascertaining whether there is a television set there and a television licence is for the time being in force in respect of the premises or specified place authorising the keeping of a television set at the premises or specified place."

    That’s fair power for them.

    So could they go into your house if the door was unlocked ?


  • #17
    touts
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,536 ✭✭✭touts


    paleoperson wrote: »
    I've spent a long time searching trying to find this out and finally just said to hell with it, I'll ask here.

    I'm expecting a visit from the friendly tv licence inspector some day and it's giving me a bit of anxiety. I keep hearing this thing about "can he look through the front window and see a tv", and the answer is not from a public area no. But could he reasonably walk around the side of the house and peer in?

    I've heard of them being very persistent and aggressive, but he wouldn't have the gall to come up to the front window on my property and look inside with me and the tv in there would he? There is absolutely no public area such as the road he can see a tv from.

    He would have to willfully go past the front door and walk along the side of the house until he came to the front window. Alternatively he could park in the driveway, get out of the car and look in. But if you're in a driveway uninvited you're already trespassing right?

    Can they get a warrant to search the house on probable cause?

    Contact a solicitor to defend your property rights. Also given the state of "anxiety" you are experiencing I'd say you should be due some serious compo.

    Alternatively you could just pay your fair share and stop sponging off the rest of us.


  • #18
    BarryD2
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,732 ✭✭✭BarryD2


    paleoperson wrote: »
    Any strategies for getting them to piss off? For example would rudeness cause them to be more harsh or less likely to return?

    They're just doing their job, like most people. Assuming you work, don't think you'd like the public to be thinking like that. Just pay the TV licence if you haven't and if you have a need too. If you don't have a need, invite them in and show them around, have a cup of tea.


  • #19
    paleoperson
    Registered Users Posts: 3,522 ✭✭✭paleoperson


    _Brian wrote: »
    That’s fair power for them.

    So could they go into your house if the door was unlocked ?

    Where does it say anything about unlocked? I'm sure they can't cause damage but it says nothing about locked or unlocked.

    It is a huge power as you said, seems like ridiculous legislation, how did that ever pass. With that power they could go into your bed if they claim they thought there was a tv in there. There must be more to it than that surely.

    ...so long as it's a "reasonable time" of course. God forbid they would be taking liberties with their powers by coming at some unreasonable time. :rolleyes:


  • #20
    SEPT 23 1989
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 43,028 ✭✭✭✭SEPT 23 1989


    Can't rat if he is dead


  • #21
    kneemos
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,450 ✭✭✭✭kneemos


    Ares Wailing Pavement wrote: »
    The Broadcasting Act 2009 states:

    "146 (3) An officer of an issuing agent may enter at any reasonable time any premises or specified place for the purposes of ascertaining whether there is a television set there and a television licence is for the time being in force in respect of the premises or specified place authorising the keeping of a television set at the premises or specified place."


    Be surprised they can enter without permission. The Guards need permission to enter without a warrant,doubt they'd give An Post staff greater powers.


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  • #22
    Charles Babbage
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,890 ✭✭✭Charles Babbage


    Deleted User wrote: »
    The TV licence inspector has to prove that live broadcasts are being watched. And when the warrant is obtained, they must be accompanied by a member of An Garda Siochána.

    Which would represent a needless waste of public resources.


    In Ireland, they need only show that you have suitable receiving equipment, although watching live broadcasts would be pretty good proof for this.


  • #23
    kneemos
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,450 ✭✭✭✭kneemos


    kneemos wrote: »
    Be surprised they can enter without permission. The Guards need permission to enter without a warrant,doubt they'd give An Post staff greater powers.

    This video has an inspector going to a judge to obtain a search warrant. 0.25

    https://youtu.be/5A8hBHUYHd4


  • #24
    dxhound2005
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,386 ✭✭✭✭dxhound2005


    paleoperson wrote: »
    Where does it say anything about unlocked? I'm sure they can't cause damage but it says nothing about locked or unlocked.

    It is a huge power as you said, seems like ridiculous legislation, how did that ever pass. With that power they could go into your bed if they claim they thought there was a tv in there. There must be more to it than that surely.

    ...so long as it's a "reasonable time" of course. God forbid they would be taking liberties with their powers by coming at some unreasonable time. :rolleyes:

    You shouldn't expect to get answers to legal questions here. And your personal views on the legislation is not relevant in any legal proceedings. It goes back to 1926, so has stood the test of time.

    http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2009/act/18/enacted/en/print#sec59


  • #25
    mad muffin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,034 ✭✭✭mad muffin


    Is this the same inspector that moonlights as a dog warden?


  • #26
    paleoperson
    Registered Users Posts: 3,522 ✭✭✭paleoperson


    After looking at the Broadcast Act 2009, where they say "an officer of an issuing agent" I think they mean a police officer. The "issuing agent" is from An Post, but he will have to bring a garda with him.


  • #27
    Glass fused light
    Registered Users Posts: 1,576 ✭✭✭Glass fused light


    kneemos wrote: »
    Be surprised they can enter without permission. The Guards need permission to enter without a warrant,doubt they'd give An Post staff greater powers.
    Garda don't need a warrant or permission to enter if they are going to arrest someone and have 'reasonable suspicion' that the person is the home. They can even force entry for this.

    So the real question is when will An Post be SWATing the OP.


  • #28
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    paleoperson wrote: »
    After looking at the Broadcast Act 2009, where they say "an officer of an issuing agent" I think they mean a police officer. The "issuing agent" is from An Post, but he will have to bring a garda with him.

    You think completely wrongly. The issuing agent is An Post and the licence inspectors are all agents of An Post. There is nothing in the legislation regarding the requirement for a Garda being present. An officer is an employee granted authority to act in the role of inspector.


  • #29
    kneemos
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,450 ✭✭✭✭kneemos


    Ares Wailing Pavement wrote: »
    You think completely wrongly. The issuing agent is An Post and the licence inspectors are all agents of An Post. There is nothing in the legislation regarding the requirement for a Garda being present. An officer is an employee granted authority to act in the role of inspector.

    So you're home having your tea and the TV Inspector walks into the kitchen?

    No way dude.


  • #30
    Hal3000
    Closed Accounts Posts: 818 ✭✭✭Hal3000


    The postman walks down my driveway and puts his hand in my letterbox, is that ok like?


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  • #31
    Cee-Jay-Cee
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,235 ✭✭✭✭Cee-Jay-Cee


    TV licence inspectors have been given additional powers to enter a house in any way they see fit where they know the occupant/scrounger has a TV and is scouring the Internet looking for ways to avoid them.

    There are many people who would only love to be able to rid themselves of anxiety for the measly sum of €13 a month. OP I hope yours goes off the charts now.


  • #32
    IAMAMORON
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,078 ✭✭✭IAMAMORON


    OP.

    Just don't answer the door and get on with your life please.

    I don't believe your that worried anyway, it sounds like your bored and just made it up. Go to bed.


  • #33
    kneemos
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,450 ✭✭✭✭kneemos


    Hal3000 wrote: »
    The postman walks down my driveway and puts his hand in my letterbox, is that ok like?

    It's 2019,nobody is judging.


  • #34
    tupenny
    Registered Users Posts: 1,439 ✭✭✭tupenny


    callaway92 wrote: »
    Or you know.. just pay your TV licence

    Lol at the fools who do that


  • #35
    riclad
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,184 ✭✭✭riclad


    IF you have a subscription to cable tv, or sky tv they will visit you,
    they have acess to the customer data from cable tv and sky .of course its easy to watch tv on a laptop or a pc monitor,if you have broadband
    as long as you do not own a tv ,
    you do not need a license .
    People come into your drive way all the time, the postman ,people collecting for charity ,
    of course some people have large house,s , the gate is locked ,
    theres a post box beside the gate .
    At one time i would get people calling , do you want to sign up for broadband, sky tv etc once every 2 months .
    tv license inspectors wear ordinary clothes, theres no way of identifying them unless you open the door,
    and talk to them.
    Are you just going to stop opening the door to everyone ?
    in my experience they are all male, they do not call after 6pm.


  • #36
    dxhound2005
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,386 ✭✭✭✭dxhound2005


    tupenny wrote: »
    Lol at the fools who do that

    The combined intellect of a million fools would not match yours.

    https://www.thejournal.ie/tv-licence-bought-ireland-3793064-Jan2018/


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  • #37
    Blueshoe
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,964 ✭✭✭Blueshoe


    If you don't watch rte do not pay the license fee.
    Why would you?


  • #38
    branie2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,305 ✭✭✭✭branie2


    If they do, it's invasion of privacy


  • #39
    aido79
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,374 ✭✭✭aido79


    paleoperson wrote: »






    Any strategies for getting them to piss off?

    Yes...buy a TV licence.


  • #40
    riclad
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,184 ✭✭✭riclad


    IF you have a tv and they find out they can bring you to court,
    whether you watch rte or not is irrelevant,
    the tv license pays for rte staff, radio etc tg4,
    not just for rte tv ,
    they have at least 6 radio channels .
    saorview broadcasts bbc,itv, etc , not just rte tv channels .
    rte operates the broadcasting network and also has channels on sky tv,
    it costs money to broadcast tv and radio and to run a tv transmission network all over the country.


  • #41
    aido79
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,374 ✭✭✭aido79


    Blueshoe wrote: »
    If you don't watch rte do not pay the license fee.
    Why would you?

    This bizarre attitude that a TV licence only gives you access to Rte needs to change. Rte own the transmitters through which all the other TV channels on saorview are broadcast so the TV licence actually pays for all the channels not just Rte.


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  • #42
    Blueshoe
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,964 ✭✭✭Blueshoe


    riclad wrote: »
    IF you have a tv and they find out they can bring you to court,
    whether you watch rte or not is irrelevant,
    the tv license pays for rte staff, radio etc tg4,
    not just for rte tv ,
    they have at least 6 radio channels .

    All are muck. If you don't use them why pay for them


  • #43
    kneemos
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,450 ✭✭✭✭kneemos


    Ares Wailing Pavement wrote: »
    You think completely wrongly. The issuing agent is An Post and the licence inspectors are all agents of An Post. There is nothing in the legislation regarding the requirement for a Garda being present. An officer is an employee granted authority to act in the role of inspector.


    I think where the confusion may be is the word premises. Premises relates to the building and all the adjacent land.
    So "may enter the premises" means approach the building.


  • #44
    Hellboi
    Registered Users Posts: 8 ✭Hellboi


    paleoperson wrote: »
    I have now, thanks!



    We kind of call the south-facing side of the house the front as it's next to the driveway. We have no windows facing the road, but the front door is facing the road. So it's like there's two sides of the house that are called the front. I never thought of it like that before.



    Any strategies for getting them to piss off? For example would rudeness cause them to be more harsh or less likely to return?

    My husband was rude to one and the TV inspector got a warrant to search our house. We came home a few days later to find the gardai sitting outside our house. We drove on by in panic cos we didn't know why they were there. A few months later my husband was reporting his bike stolen and the Garda mentioned that there was a warrant outstanding for a TV licence search. We hadn't got a TV and we were sick and tired of telling them so hence the reason my husband was a tad rude to them.


  • #45
    paleoperson
    Registered Users Posts: 3,522 ✭✭✭paleoperson


    riclad wrote: »
    IF you have a subscription to cable tv, or sky tv they will visit you,
    they have acess to the customer data from cable tv and sky .of course its easy to watch tv on a laptop or a pc monitor,if you have broadband
    as long as you do not own a tv ,

    I'm doubtful they have access to Sky/cable box records. That's sensitive commercial information, it's also private and should be protected by GDPR and other rules.

    Besides my only current tv subscription is dodgy to begin with. ;)
    riclad wrote: »
    People come into your drive way all the time, the postman ,people collecting for charity ,
    of course some people have large house,s , the gate is locked ,
    theres a post box beside the gate

    yeah this is true, hence my questioning. I would contend that going up to the door is generally fair use, based on how the owner may potentially wish for them to be there. However any advancements beyond the door such as in my situation does not appear to have any potential benefits for the owner barring the case of an emergency and hence it should be outlawed and any information gleaned from it rendered inadmissible.
    Hellboi wrote: »
    My husband was rude to one and the TV inspector got a warrant to search our house. We came home a few days later to find the gardai sitting outside our house. We drove on by in panic cos we didn't know why they were there. A few months later my husband was reporting his bike stolen and the Garda mentioned that there was a warrant outstanding for a TV licence search. We hadn't got a TV and we were sick and tired of telling them so hence the reason my husband was a tad rude to them.

    Sorry to hear that. Seems like politeness is preferable.


  • #46
    ILoveYourVibes
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,202 ✭✭✭✭ILoveYourVibes


    Alright but I warn him what he sees cannot be unseen.


  • #47
    Dravokivich
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Music Moderators, Politics Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 22,360 CMod ✭✭✭✭Dravokivich


    [Deleted User] wrote: »
    The TV licence inspector has to prove that live broadcasts are being watched. And when the warrant is obtained, they must be accompanied by a member of An Garda Siochána.

    Which would represent a needless waste of public resources.

    They dont, you just need the capability. Even if your TV is just hooked up to a video player, you still need the license .


  • #48
    IAMAMORON
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,078 ✭✭✭IAMAMORON


    Hellboi wrote: »
    My husband was rude to one and the TV inspector got a warrant to search our house. We came home a few days later to find the gardai sitting outside our house. We drove on by in panic cos we didn't know why they were there. A few months later my husband was reporting his bike stolen and the Garda mentioned that there was a warrant outstanding for a TV licence search. We hadn't got a TV and we were sick and tired of telling them so hence the reason my husband was a tad rude to them.

    Elaborate on how rude your husband was please.

    I love the image of two cops sitting outside your gaff waiting to search it for a Television. That really happened like. Did you panic and duck in the passenger seat or did you manage to stone cold it and make like nothing happened?

    The best part of your story is how the cop down the station said there was an o/s warrant. Did your husband not ask for a copy?

    Do you reckon your husband is still being rude to people? Do you think if he watched more Telly he might learn some manners?


  • #49
    paleoperson
    Registered Users Posts: 3,522 ✭✭✭paleoperson


    IAMAMORON wrote: »
    Elaborate on how rude your husband was please.

    I love the image of two cops sitting outside your gaff waiting to search it for a Television. That really happened like. Did you panic and duck in the passenger seat or did you manage to stone cold it and make like nothing happened?

    The best part of your story is how the cop down the station said there was an o/s warrant. Did your husband not ask for a copy?

    Do you reckon your husband is still being rude to people? Do you think if he watched more Telly he might learn some manners?

    Can you please go away, this is the second time I have to mark your post for either trolling or sheer stupidity in this thread.


  • #50
    magentur
    Registered Users Posts: 34 ✭magentur


    Church on Tuesday wrote: »
    It's hardly worth it for the ****e RTÉ churn out and Love Island...
    riclad wrote: »
    the tv license pays for rte staff, radio etc tg4,
    not just for rte tv ,
    they have at least 6 radio channels .

    Don't think that any of the license money is used for Love Island


  • #51
    Gael23
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,123 ✭✭✭✭Gael23


    You could just pay the TV license and remove the anxiety


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