Woman who failed to pay TV licence fine taken to jail in five-hour taxi trip

Idbatterim

let revenue deduct is at source like the property tax, this was suggested by the Gardai...

Lapin

kneemos wrote: »

She is.

She's responsible for the law taking action against her.

She's not responsible for the shambolic wasteful and idiotic manner in which the law went about undertaking that action.

The Backwards Man

Specialun wrote: »

So if it wasnt done on the meter it means it was accurate? Plus because it possibly was a contract then they cant have any affiliation to a guard..rofl

It would be about €1100 on the meter, (don't forget the two guards have to come home again;)) so I'd say yeah, the state got a good deal.

Tony EH

A license to own a TV.

How absurd.

:rolleyes:

kneemos

RobertKK wrote: »

We don't know her circumstances.

I'd have sympathy for her in fairness,having tried to pay.

Stinicker

If this proves anything it is that the TV licence should be totally scrapped, RTE are already a commercial station so let them sink or swim with minimal state assistance, all they have ever been is a mouthpiece for Fianna Fail anyway and a dumping ground for failed musicians and TV personalities.

Replace the TV licence with a €160 Internet tax, which would be used exclusively to fund the roll out of Fibre-Optic Broadband to the Home, FTTH, with a state owned and controlled Fibre Network into the homes all over the country but focusing firstly on Rural Ireland.

Noone should pay a TV licence! The biggest pity in this entire case was that the woman had paid over €200 already when she shouldn't have given them a single penny.

kneemos

mickstupp wrote: »

@kneemos - Really. I'd love to hear the 'reasoning' on that. Since she surely doesn't have the power to authorise that expenditure, so she didn't decide to waste those funds on her own transfer.

Resulted directly from her actions.

Baggy Trousers

She should be locked in a room for 48 hours and forced to watch The Angelus and Tubridy's snide interview of fellow crim Paul Murphy on constant repeat.

That would learn her.

How the hell did I get away from not paying for a TV license all these years? Are they really serious about it?

Tony EH

kneemos wrote: »

I'd have sympathy for her in fairness,having tried to pay.

Agreed...and paying, frankly, one of the most absurd taxes that we have in this stupid country.

Meanwhile, there are fcukers walking around scot free with criminal convictions in double figures.

It's utterly ridiculous.

Lapin

Stinicker wrote: »

Noone should pay a TV licence!

Damn right he should.

mickstupp

kneemos wrote: »

Resulted directly from her actions.

What you're suggesting is that in a sequence of events in which multiple people had a hand in instigating certain actions, only one person should have any responsibility for the whole mess. Do you understand why that's a dangerous attitude? Why it's not a good thing to shift responsibility in that way?

Jawgap

Specialun wrote: »

So if it wasnt done on the meter it means it was accurate? Plus because it possibly was a contract then they cant have any affiliation to a guard..rofl

Well I'm not sure who has the contract at the moment, but up until recently it was Xpert taxis. I suppose a Guard based in Donegal could have an affiliation to a Dublin based taxi firm.

Plus €300 for a 500km (at least) round trip? If he did it on the meter he should've got at least 3 to 4 times the sum mentioned in the article (presumably the driver charged for the trip to Dublin, then charged to bring the Guards back?).

Even if he only went Donegal to Dublin (via Sligo) the TfI taxi fare calculator suggests a figure of between €450 and €530 (not allowing for the time for stops).

minidazzler

minidazzler wrote: »

Being imprisoned for non payment of a fine is an absolutely ludicrous system.... It's tantamount to state mandated extortion.

You pay your protection money, or you get kidnapped

Baby Jane

mickstupp wrote: »

What you're suggesting is that in a sequence of events in which multiple people had a hand in instigating certain actions, only one person should have any responsibility for the whole mess. Do you understand why that's a dangerous attitude? Why it's not a good thing to shift responsibility in that way?

Is focusing on the punishment, when she could have avoided it, not shifting of responsibility from her?
Not that I'm saying the punishment was appropriate either though.

kneemos

mickstupp wrote: »

What you're suggesting is that in a sequence of events in which multiple people had a hand in instigating certain actions, only one person should have any responsibility for the whole mess. Do you understand why that's a dangerous attitude? Why it's not a good thing to shift responsibility in that way?

Not shifting responsibility. This is what always happens when fines aren't paid.

mickstupp

Baby Jane wrote: »

Is focusing on the punishment, when she could have avoided it, not shifting of responsibility from her?
Not that I'm saying the punishment was appropriate either though.

No, no, no. My problem isn't her punishment. Fine. Punish away. In fact I think the punishment is too light, but that's a different issue.

My problem is holding her responsible for the money wasted on her transfer, money which she neither decided to spend nor authorise. Yet at least two people here think she is somehow responsible for those wasted state funds. She's not the person who decided to spend them, yet kneemos, for example, thinks that whoever authorised that waste has no responsibility for that act, and instead this woman is to blame. As if she rang him up and bullied him into spending the money.

KKkitty

Un Croissant wrote: »

Only in Ireland.

Did I get that right?

Spot on. If it happened in any other country we'd be mocking it but the fact it's happened in Ireland is appalling. Heads should roll but they'll probably be given promotions instead of their P45s.

donegaLroad

Specialun wrote: »

Nice cushie earner for the taxi driver

I bet:

1/4 related to a guard
9/4 overcharged and nobody questioned
10/1 complete random stranger

1/4 related to a member of the government.

Baby Jane

KKkitty wrote: »

Spot on. If it happened in any other country we'd be mocking it but the fact it's happened in Ireland is appalling. Heads should roll but they'll probably be given promotions instead of their P45s.

Think they were messing.
The "Only in Ireland" thing gets used to death - brings nothing to the table, and often refers to something that could happen anywhere.

Heckler

Tony EH wrote: »

Agreed...and paying, frankly, one of the most absurd taxes that we have in this stupid country.

Meanwhile, there are fcukers walking around scot free with criminal convictions in double figures.

It's utterly ridiculous.

Can't find a link but read the other day about a guy who tried to rob a post office with an accomplice armed with a hammer and apparently a gun. They got away with nothing and were caught not long after. The elderly staff are traumatised and treat everyone coming in now with suspicion.

What does he get ? A 5 year suspended sentence. Because he has no previous convictions (never been caught. You don't go from law abiding citizen to armed robber overnight) and is from an apparently respectable family the judge reckons he's a prime candidate for reform.

Farce. Two womens lives ruined and this ****bag is walking around free as a bird.

KKkitty

Baby Jane wrote: »

Think they were messing.
The "Only in Ireland" thing gets used to death - brings nothing to the table, and often refers to something that could happen anywhere.

I know they were messing but seriously it's a TV license not murder so the waste of resources in think case is stupid.

blade1

Could they not just get people that don't pay fines to do something useful around their area like pick up litter or sweep the street for a week?
Be probably more of a deterrent than Jail to some!

dxhound2005

RobertKK wrote: »

Really need a change in law so money that is owed like this can be paid over time from either your wage or social welfare payment.

What happened was a total waste of money, she had not paid in time, but had shown good faith by paying some of the fine, which was more than the TV license cost.

We should not be adding cost to the state that is not needed, hence why we need a law change.

The law is there for collecting fines by instalments and for making attachement orders to wages and occupational pensions. I don't really know but it is probably being used all the time. But it would hardly make the news if someone is having €10 or whatever deducted from their wages. Welfare is excluded apparently because other legislation e.g. to recover welfare fraud only allows for around €2 a week max to be deducted. And Dept of Justice decided that it would be not worth their while to use that system.

You can read all about it in my other post on this thread.

Lord PuppyMcSnuggle of Cuddleshire

Hans Bricks wrote: »

Estimated potetntial loss of €160 for a semi private entity vs €1,000 to ferry someone to jail for 3 hours

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANLPyalX-HM

CarrickMcJoe

Bet she pays it in future..and a few non payers may also invest in one after reading that story,
Money well spent !

My name is URL

CarrickMcJoe wrote: »

Bet she pays it in future..and a few non payers may also invest in one after reading that story,
Money well spent !

You think?

The number of people being jailed for non-payment of the licence fee has been rising every year

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/411-people-jailed-last-year-for-not-paying-their-tv-licence-30235625.html

THE number of people jailed for not paying their television licence surged to 411 last year.

The figure represents a 34pc increase on 2012 when 272 people were jailed and continues a trend of year-on-year increases in those who have served time over the offence.

Some 183 offenders were jailed in 2011, while 152 were jailed in 2010 and 75 in 2009.

It's the most backwards and ineffectual way of dealing with the issue, but you'd expect nothing better from our legislators and courts

Guy:Incognito

Hans Bricks wrote: »

Man Alive ! Does the Irish Justice system have any sense of perspective ?

Estimated potetntial loss of €160 for a semi private entity vs €1,000 to ferry someone to jail for 3 hours (and carry out the process in the most **** way possible).

Whereas they make money on the other people they lock up?


If it was done on the basis of making money no one would ever be brought to court, Nevermind locked up.

I hear the gardai are loss making too, should be wound up.

foggy_lad

what would have happened if this woman's daughter was not available to look after her 11year old son? would the Gardai leave the young child locked into the house or would he be put into care for the day?

Rabbo

This is like when people complained when the protesters were jailed.
ZOMG! Nazi state is now jailing protestors!!!

People generally don't get jailed for non payment of fines or peacefully protesting. They do get jailed for ignoring a court order. If there are no repercussions for ignoring the directions of a judge, our justice system is worthless.

Guy:Incognito

foggy_lad wrote: »

what would have happened if this woman's daughter was not available to look after her 11year old son? would the Gardai leave the young child locked into the house or would he be put into care for the day?

What happens to any kids when their parents have to go to jail?

thickhead

pay your tv licence avoid jail. Simple maybe if wasters like her actually obey the law there wouldn't be a problem with overcrowding. And yes I do know there are worse crimes but she breaks the law she pays the price.

Harry Palmr

foggy_lad wrote: »

what would have happened if this woman's daughter was not available to look after her 11year old son? would the Gardai leave the young child locked into the house or would he be put into care for the day?

If no family were available as the state had removed the legal guardian the state would be the de-facto guardian so they'd have to find a place for her I'd say.

foggy_lad

Rabbo wrote: »

This is like when people complained when the protesters were jailed.
ZOMG! Nazi state is now jailing protestors!!!

People generally don't get jailed for non payment of fines or peacefully protesting. They do get jailed for ignoring a court order. If there are no repercussions for ignoring the directions of a judge, our justice system is worthless.

It surely is worthless when judges in the district and circuit courts will ignore dozens of previous convictions with some people and give they ridiculously lenient suspended sentences or other non custodial orders for serious and often violent crimes!

NachoBusiness

The fact that someone needs a licence to own a fcuking television is absurd.

Rabbo

foggy_lad wrote: »

It surely is worthless when judges in the district and circuit courts will ignore dozens of previous convictions with some people and give they ridiculously lenient suspended sentences or other non custodial orders for serious and often violent crimes!

True but that's a different issue. There is usually consequences to defying a direct court order whether you are a long term criminal or otherwise

thickhead

foggy_lad wrote:

It surely is worthless when judges in the district and circuit courts will ignore dozens of previous convictions with some people and give they ridiculously lenient suspended sentences or other non custodial orders for serious and often violent crimes!

Maybe the violent offenders pay there tv licence.

thickhead

thickhead wrote:

Maybe the violent offenders pay there tv licence.

* their

Joshua J

thickhead wrote: »

pay your tv licence avoid jail. Simple maybe if wasters like her actually obey the law there wouldn't be a problem with overcrowding. And yes I do know there are worse crimes but she breaks the law she pays the price.

I'm constantly amazed by the number of posters who've never illegally downloaded a movie, ever broke the speed limit or even took the lords name in vain. Wow. Sainthood awaits.

thickhead

Joshua J wrote:

I'm constantly amazed by the number of posters who've never illegally downloaded a movie, ever broke the speed limit or even took the lords name in vain. Wow. Sainthood awaits.

I don't drive or rather I can't. I don't download movies because I am not a c**t and I do not believe in god but that is not a crime.

percy212

Agreed. This is the answer. Public service for x amount of hours instead of wasting money on a farce of a trip to Dublin.

blade1 wrote: »

Could they not just get people that don't pay fines to do something useful around their area like pick up litter or sweep the street for a week?
Be probably more of a deterrent than Jail to some!

worded

The shame is on the huge salaries at RTE.
160 euro is way too much.

Wide Load

It's stupid, anyone with half a brain can see that. She didn't pay a TV license and then didn't pay a fine, it's not the end of the world.

Joshua J

thickhead wrote: »

I don't drive or rather I can't. I don't download movies because I am not a c**t and I do not believe in god but that is not a crime.

Blasphemy is though dude. For shame. What you believe has no relevance. Back to he drawing board.

slimjimmc

Joshua J wrote: »

I'm constantly amazed by the number of posters who've never illegally downloaded a movie, ever broke the speed limit or even took the lords name in vain. Wow. Sainthood awaits.

Sainthood has little to do with it.
If you get caught speeding you're given the option of paying the fine or going to court and take the consequences if convicted.
If you get caught without a TV licence you're given the option of buying a TV licence or going to court and take the consequences if convicted.

In both cases if you fail to abide by a court ruling you too could be going for a spin in a taxi/garda car.

thickhead

Joshua J wrote:

Blasphemy is though dude. For shame. What you believe has no relevance. Back to he drawing board.

fair point but the rest is relevent.

Joshua J

slimjimmc wrote: »

Sainthood has little to do with it.
If you get caught speeding you're given the option of paying the fine or going to court and take the consequences if convicted.
If you get caught without a TV licence you're given the option of buying a TV licence or going to court and take the consequences if convicted.

In both cases if you fail to abide by a court ruling you too could be going for a spin in a taxi/garda car.

I was replying to the posters who talk about "obeying the law" and "she broke the law" etc. We all break laws to some degree over the course of our lives but just don't get caught. I'm just countering the hypocrisy of "obey the law" brigade.

thickhead

Joshua J wrote:

I was replying to the posters who talk about "obeying the law" and "she broke the law" etc. We all break laws to some degree over the course of our lives but just don't get caught. I'm just countering the hypocrisy of "obey the law" brigade.

I have not broken the law once in my life. So no I am not a hypocrite. and If there was a fine for blasphemy I would pay that fine and not bitch and cry if I was put in prison. Some people were raised to obey all laws.

Harry Palmr

thickhead wrote: »

I have not broken the law once in my life. So no I am not a hypocrite. and If there was a fine for blasphemy I would pay that fine and not bitch and cry if I was put in prison. Some people were raised to obey all laws.

Bless you! (I bet you have btw, it may have been a law you didn't even know existed)

COYVB

Joshua J wrote: »

Blasphemy is though dude. For shame. What you believe has no relevance. Back to he drawing board.

Taking the lord's name in vain is not sufficient to break the state blasphemy laws

Lapin

thickhead wrote: »

* their

Your knew hear arant u !