| What are the consequences of a railway fare | | | | ticket. Do not wait until you arrive at your destination |
| evasion, and what impact can it have on your future | | | | unless there is no conductor on the train. The onus is |
| travel plans and employment prospects? Many people | | | | on you to prove that you have attempted to buy a |
| believe that failing to buy a railway ticket and | | | | ticket, not on the train company to prove that you do |
| subsequently travelling on a train does not amount to a | | | | not have a valid one, so you must make every effort |
| criminal offense. People who travel regularly often see | | | | to buy one. |
| ticket barriers unmanned at quieter stations and may | | | | If you have forgotten to do this for any reason and |
| once make a genuine mistake when in a rush to travel | | | | been caught, or you have manufactured your own |
| and forget to buy a ticket. When they realise that they | | | | train ticket, you must seek urgent legal advice. Early |
| got away with it once, they might then try to do it | | | | discussions and explanations with the train company |
| again and again. At some point, however, they will be | | | | might avoid a prosecution; If the British Transport Police |
| found not to have bought a ticket. Whilst it may have | | | | become involved it is much harder to avoid. |
| been true in the past that a ticket operator might turn a | | | | What Are The Consequences Of A Conviction? |
| blind eye, the train companies have now started to | | | | If you decide not to engage the help of a specialist |
| realise the cost of this lost revenue. They have now | | | | solicitor, you may find that you are subsequently |
| invested heavily in automatic ticket barriers and will | | | | convicted of an offense. This is a criminal conviction |
| now take each offense of travelling without a ticket | | | | for dishonesty with very serious consequences. |
| very seriously. | | | | Employment |
| In addition to those that travel without a ticket at all, | | | | The conviction will have to be disclosed on every |
| some travellers have been known to fraudulently | | | | subsequent application for employment. It never |
| design their own train tickets. Again, often the belief is | | | | becomes "spent" like a driving offense for say |
| that they are doing no harm and if they are caught | | | | speeding, it will always have to be disclosed. If you |
| they will simply be ordered to pay for a genuine | | | | apply for a job and are competing against other |
| season ticket. This is now not the case at all. | | | | candidates with similar skills and qualifications as you |
| Train operators are taking railway fare evasion | | | | hold, you may find the conviction for dishonesty weighs |
| incredibly seriously. What's more, a conviction for | | | | heavily against you. |
| travelling without a valid train travel ticket is a criminal | | | | Travel |
| offense. Not only will a successful prosecution lead to | | | | The conviction will stop you entering certain countries |
| a genuine criminal conviction, as it is a crime of | | | | completely. If you are convicted you will not be able to |
| dishonesty. | | | | enter Australia or The U.S.A. to name the biggest |
| So What Should You Do? | | | | countries and again this will last indefinitely. |
| Obviously the first and most sensible legal advice is | | | | With such serious consequences, the advice is always |
| always to buy a valid train travel ticket. If you make a | | | | to ensure that you travel with a valid train ticket. If you |
| genuine mistake and realise you have done so once | | | | find you have not done so, seek expert legal advice |
| you are on the train, find a conductor as soon as | | | | urgently. |
| possible and explain your mistake and ask to pay for a | | | | |