I hope our Legislators are Proud

mountai

Says what a fcuked up country we live in when an elderly couple from Tallagh are carted off to Jail for non payment of a poxy tv licence fine. Well done Enda and co!!!!!

Lapin

Is Enda a judge now too?


The legislators and those who implement the legislastion were doing what we all pay them to do.

Banjo String

mountai wrote: »

Says what a fcuked up country we live in when an elderly couple from Tallagh are carted off to Jail for non payment of a poxy tv licence fine. Well done Enda and co!!!!!

They've heard all the excuses.

lahalane

If only there had been some sort of warning...

super_furry

I wouldn't say they're proud, they just don't care.

Any context?

Also thanks for reminding me the TV licence is due.

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo

It ain't no 'poxy' tv license brother.

It be there to pay inflated salaries to people with no god damn talent yo!

Everyone be bitches around those parts up in there!

Femme_Fatale

Here is the story.

They're not really elderly tbh. And the OP is totally framed in such a way as to look like they're really old and didn't pay their TV licence so they got sent to prison. Obviously there's way way way more to it than that. You get loads of notifications. It's weird the way the man says he'd pay the €1,200 if he had it, when he would never have had to pay €1,200 but €160 - in installments if needed. Actually no, not at all - due to them requiring to be on benefits because of the lady's disability.
It doesn't say this is a f'ucked up country at all - it would happen in countries deemed better than Ireland.

You should apply for a job writing for the Herald OP.

super_furry

They were in prison for 30 minutes? Jaysus, it's hardly the Shawshank Redemption, is it?

MadsL

I'd like to be the first to congratulate the authorities for enforcing the laws of the land for once...I hope this trend spreads to other law-breakers.

hansfrei

Shudda waited till winter. Couldda saved them a few bobs off their heating bills

Banjo String

A RETIRED couple with serious medical problems were taken to prison this morning for half-an-hour for not paying their TV licence.

Ah here, I'm no fan of rte, broadcast charges etc. But I do be in the jacks longer than that every day.

Orlaw3136

mountai wrote: »

Says what a fcuked up country we live in when an elderly couple from Tallagh are carted off to Jail for non payment of a poxy tv licence fine. Well done Enda and co!!!!!

The only problem I have with this is if they didn't have a telly.

Why does it matter where they're from by the way ?

super_furry

Sounds like a bargain for them to be honest. Spend 30 minutes in a room, have a €1200 fine wiped off. Result.

Lapin

They let a bloke into the Dochas Centre :eek::eek::eek:

He can count himself lucky they didn't bang him up with the Scissors Sisters.

Half an hour would be more than enough time for them to chop the head off him.

catallus

Are the government not constitutionally separate from the judiciary?

super_furry

Lapin wrote: »

They let a bloke into the Dochas Centre :eek::eek::eek:

He can count himself lucky they didn't bang him up with the Scissors Sisters.

Half an hour would be more than enough time for them to chop the head off him.

And all he wanted was a short back and sides. It's shocking Joe, shocking.

PingO_O

The lady is wheelchair bound and her husband is waiting on a hip replacement, still a bit of a crappy thing to do to someone even if only for half an hour, pointless as well.

DanWall

If they were elderly, they would have free TV licence

The Backwards Man

Hundreds of thousands of people have to pay their bills. No sympathy.

Femme_Fatale

PingO_O wrote: »

The lady is wheelchair bound and her husband is waiting on a hip replacement, still a bit of a crappy thing to do to someone even if only for half an hour

Probably the reason that it was only half an hour.

I agree it's stupid though. Just ridiculous bureaucracy - every box being ticked in order to close each case and file away.

In my opinion, the course of action would have been to just keep charging the €160 - but letters were ignored so there has to be a bit more of a threat for people to sit up and take notice. I don't believe for a second that they got no letter until the €1,200 one. I also don't believe their circumstances were known about until the jail sentence, which was then reduced to 30 minutes. The automated letters-issuing system can't be aware of individual circumstances unfortunately.

jetsonx

So this is what our police force are doing.

Our cities and towns are awash with crime. Burglary is rife. Muggings have become commonplace. Old people are living in fear. Homicides seem to happen on a daily basis now.

And our An Garda Siochana are pushing people in wheelchairs into prison.

Well done boys. I hope you're proud of yourselves.

Femme_Fatale

jetsonx wrote: »

Our cities and towns are awash with crime. Burglary is rife. Muggings have become commonplace. Old people are living in fear. Homicides seem to happen on a daily basis now.

You're making Ireland seem like South Africa. It's not like South Africa.

And our An Garda Siochana are pushing people in wheelchairs into prison.

One sergeant met them.

Well done boys. I hope you're proud of yourselves.

It's not like they choose what work they do.

The unsupported hyperbole is pointless - and maybe more suited to TheJournal.ie.

super_furry

South Africa? He makes it sound like Gotham City.

Where is the hero we need?

Sh1tbag OToole

TV license should be scrapped and so should most of RTE. Fair play to these lads for sticking it out till the bitter end

Shanotheslayer

super_furry wrote: »

South Africa? He makes it sound like Gotham City.

Where is the hero we need?

This City needs a Batman.

Femme_Fatale

Sh1tbag OToole wrote: »

TV license should be scrapped and so should most of RTE. Fair play to these lads for sticking it out till the bitter end

What use did it do them? They didn't get away with it, they just don't have to pay it because they are entitled to benefits.
I don't think the TV licence is worth what it pays for either btw and see nothing wrong with people trying to avoid it, but when you're eventually caught, well that's that - you have to pay it.

Guy:Incognito

PingO_O wrote: »

The lady is wheelchair bound and her husband is waiting on a hip replacement, still a bit of a crappy thing to do to someone even if only for half an hour, pointless as well.

What other laws shouldn't apply to wheelchair bound people or those on a waiting list for a new hip?


I assume this is the same couple from a few weeks ago? I notice they stopped using the pic of her walking with a walking frame while describing her as wheelchair bound.

Both are younger than Arnie btw. Everyone over 60 isn't on their deathbed or in need of protection.

Femme_Fatale wrote: »

. I don't believe for a second that they got no letter until the €1,200 one.

Even if it was true , I doubt neither of them knew the licence existed , so they knew they had to pay it.

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Hundreds of thousands of people have to pay their bills. No sympathy.

Everyone pays their bills don't they but this is a pissing charge that dishes out massive salaries to people with mediocre talent.

Hey, guess what happens if I don't pay UPC? I get cut off.
Guess what happens if I don't pay Bord Gais? I get cut off.
Guess what happens if I don't pay my rent? I get thrown out.
Guess what happens if I don't buy food? I will go hungry.

But...

Guess what happens if I don't pay my Tv license? I go to jail!!!

It's just ****ing wrong.

My name is URL

Whatever about the age of the couple, or the specific circumstances of their case; the fact that people are jailed for not paying for TV licences is just absurd. There's no way anyone could logically defend the practice. It's wasteful in the extreme and doesn't serve society in any way.

Wasn't the whole issue of jailing people for non-payment supposed to have been dealt with a few years ago? What's the hold up?

PingO_O

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

What other laws shouldn't apply to wheelchair bound people or those on a waiting list for a new hip?


I assume this is the same couple from a few weeks ago? I notice they stopped using the pic of her walking with a walking frame while describing her as wheelchair bound.

Both are younger than Arnie btw. Everyone over 60 isn't on their deathbed or in need of protection.




Even if it was true , I doubt neither of them knew the licence existed , so they knew they had to pay it.

I get you but it's the nature of the offense here and they weren't in great financial circumstances either according to the article, I'm not saying it's an outrage or anything but it is a bit of a crappy thing to do just to take their details and send them home, but femme fatale explained that above.

Specialun

jetsonx wrote: »

So this is what our police force are doing.

Our cities and towns are awash with crime. Burglary is rife. Muggings have become commonplace. Old people are living in fear. Homicides seem to happen on a daily basis now.

And our An Garda Siochana are pushing people in wheelchairs into prison.

Well done boys. I hope you're proud of yourselves.

Exaggerate much????

MadsL

My name is URL wrote: »

Whatever about the age of the couple, or the specific circumstances of their case; the fact that people are jailed for not paying for TV licences is just absurd. There's no way anyone could logically defend the practice. It's wasteful in the extreme and doesn't serve society in any way.

Wasn't the whole issue of jailing people for non-payment supposed to have been dealt with a few years ago? What's the hold up?

What do you propose as a sanction for non-payment? Name and Shame? The Pillory? Burning crosses in the front yard?

Guy:Incognito

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo wrote: »

Everyone pays their bills don't they but this is a pissing charge that dishes out massive salaries to people with mediocre talent.

Hey, guess what happens if I don't pay UPC? I get cut off.
Guess what happens if I don't pay Bord Gais? I get cut off.
Guess what happens if I don't pay my rent? I get thrown out.
Guess what happens if I don't buy food? I will go hungry.

But...

Guess what happens if I don't pay my Tv license? I go to jail!!!

It's just ****ing wrong.

UPC, Gas and rent are paid a month in advance are they not? So if you don't pay and they cut you off you don't owe them.

Same with food, unless you steal some.

If you do run up a bill and don't pay, companies can get court judgements can they not?

If you don't pay court fines you eventually get taken to prison for contempt of court. That's what they were sent in for. The fact that the first offence was a tv licence is irrelevant, they disobeyed the court issued fine.

PingO_O wrote: »

just to take their details and send them home, but femme fatale explained that above.

That's what happens the first time. Your sent a fine. Then you ignore/refuse to pay that, then it drags on and on and when you refuse to cooperate , then the court has no other option. How long should they continue fining people pointlessly?

yoloc

30Mins inside for a 1200 bill, come and get me because i aint paid mine in 10 years llf.

Specialun

yoloc wrote: »

30Mins inside for a 1200 bill, come and get me because i aint paid mine in 10 years llf.

Reported

MadsL

yoloc wrote: »

30Mins inside for a 1200 bill, come and get me because i aint paid mine in 10 years llf.

Can you post up your address so those of us that have paid your share can tell the Gardai where to find you?

Femme_Fatale

Shur loads of people haven't paid it for years - nothing bad-ass about that. You don't get caught until they call to your address, and that might not even happen, or you could bluff.

yoloc

MadsL wrote: »

Can you post up your address so those of us that have paid your share can tell the Gardai where to find you?

The gardi cant cross the border TBH, where i live, they dont call to the doors. Their cars have been burnt 6times in last few years so they dont return lol. Next time they should be tied to the chair doing the queens work on our island

MadsL

yoloc wrote: »

The gardi cant cross the border TBH, where i live, they dont call to the doors. Their cars have been burnt 6times in last few years so they dont return lol. Next time they should be tied to the chair doing the queens work on our island

Perhaps as you are so proud of your achievements you might post your address so we can send you your prize?

My name is URL

MadsL wrote: »

What do you propose as a sanction for non-payment? Name and Shame? The Pillory? Burning crosses in the front yard?

Deduct it at source.. not exactly rocket surgery like.

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

UPC, Gas and rent are paid a month in advance are they not? So if you don't pay and they cut you off you don't owe them.

Same with food, unless you steal some.

If you do run up a bill and don't pay, companies can get court judgements can they not?

If you don't pay court fines you eventually get taken to prison for contempt of court. That's what they were sent in for. The fact that the first offence was a tv licence is irrelevant, they disobeyed the court issued fine.




That's what happens the first time. Your sent a fine. Then you ignore/refuse to pay that, then it drags on and on and when you refuse to cooperate , then the court has no other option. How long should they continue fining people pointlessly?

I honestly understand that the reason they went to jail was technically for ignoring a court order/fine but I just think it's dumb that we waste Garda/court and these peoples time and money by going through this whole process to pay inflated salaries to mediocre talent.

The only thing I watch on RTE is the sport they show and I have no doubt they actually make a nice profit from the games they show. The All-Ireland tomorrow alone must be worth a fortune to them.

I'd be happy if they lumped the Tv license onto UPC/Sky Tv or Netflix bills rather than paying for all these inspectors and wasting Garda and court resources on this entire process.

RTE should provide public broadcasting, ie, news, current affairs, culture events and things of that nature.
If I want to watch some football, I'll pay for Setanta or Sky.
If you want to watch Fair City, subscribe to some payed entertainment service.
If you want to watch films pay for Netflix ect. ect. ect.

The Big Smoke

My name is URL wrote: »

Whatever about the age of the couple, or the specific circumstances of their case; the fact that people are jailed for not paying for TV licences is just absurd. There's no way anyone could logically defend the practice. It's wasteful in the extreme and doesn't serve society in any way.

Wasn't the whole issue of jailing people for non-payment supposed to have been dealt with a few years ago? What's the hold up?

The Guards would have very little to do if they didn't. Apart from sitting and nabbing speeding motorists or standing beside the government buildings.

Sh1tbag OToole

Femme_Fatale wrote: »

What use did it do them? They didn't get away with it, they just don't have to pay it because they are entitled to benefits.
I don't think the TV licence is worth what it pays for either btw and see nothing wrong with people trying to avoid it, but when you're eventually caught, well that's that - you have to pay it.

Bit by bit it shows our overlords that people are getting sick of RTE and their license fee. I suppose anyone who ever died fighting a war sees no use to it but allowing the enemy to march in is not a good plan either.

I hope the new broadcast charge will be fought off instead of people reaching for their debit card as soon as 'Revenue' is mentioned.

hansfrei

So let me get this straight.....

judge issues a hefty fine to people with no money?

Is that through stupidity or was the judge looking for trouble?

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo

hansfrei wrote: »

So let me get this straight.....

judge issues a hefty fine to people with no money?

Is that through stupidity or was the judge looking for trouble?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0rSXjVuJVg

paikea

Sh1tbag OToole wrote: »

Bit by bit it shows our overlords that people are getting sick of RTE and their license fee. I suppose anyone who ever died fighting a war sees no use to it but allowing the enemy to march in is not a good plan either.

I hope the new broadcast charge will be fought off instead of people reaching for their debit card as soon as 'Revenue' is mentioned.

Like you I don't agree how the money obtained from that license is used, I don't like the fact that they will be forcing everyone to pay and the amount charged, and I do want to do something about it.

Unfortunately though I don't think that promoting a campaign for not paying is the most effective approach for the exact same reason you are mentioning in your post. A lot of people will pay it straight away like they did for the property tax. The worst part is that I don't have a better suggestion to make. I am actually looking for some suggestions myself.

What happened to that couple from Tallaght was just the last straw for me.

Phoebas

My name is URL wrote: »

Deduct it at source.. not exactly rocket surgery like.

I think there's a Fines Act going through the Daíl at the moment, with provisions for deducting fines from source.
Hopefully, it'll make these stories a thing of the past.

Phoebas

paikea wrote: »

Like you I don't agree how the money obtained from that license is used, I don't like the fact that they will be forcing everyone to pay and the amount charged, and I do want to do something about it.

Unfortunately though I don't think that promoting a campaign for not paying is the most effective approach for the exact same reason you are mentioning in your post. A lot of people will pay it straight away like they did for the property tax. The worst part is that I don't have a better suggestion to make. I am actually looking for some suggestions myself.

Start a political campaign on the issue.
For all of the complaining online I see about the TV licence and RTE, it never registers as an actual political issue, because nobody cares enough to do any more than complain on the internet about it.

UCDVet

If you actually read the article, it all seems pretty typical.

* The couple hasn't paid and won't pay.
* Since they're old, they'll be getting it for free anyway.
* The 'prison' they were sent to, was more like filling out paperwork for 30 minutes and they were treated 'with respect'. To be honest, if I can get in and out of a government building in less than an hour I'm happy. They weren't locked up.

All that was accomplished was a waste of taxpayers money, employees time, and the time of the couple. No money was recovered. And no punishment was dished out - this doesn't even serve as an example for others who might not pay....I could have a TV and skip paying for years, get caught, ignore it, ignore it some more, *eventually* - probably years later - spend 30 minutes filling out paperwork and go home.

craggle

yoloc wrote: »

The gardi cant cross the border TBH, where i live, they dont call to the doors. Their cars have been burnt 6times in last few years so they dont return lol. Next time they should be tied to the chair doing the queens work on our island

if youre in the north you dont pay the license for rte - so your boasting is pointless