Archbishop's PA branded a fare dodger for 20p bus fare slip-up

Just wondering if the trolls still think that "the law is the law"
should eclipse common sense when the accused is a public transport
user, rather than an evil motorist.

http://tinylink.com/?n837Wd49Vf

Archbishop's PA branded a fare dodger for 20p bus fare slip-up
Robert Men***, Chief Reporter
06.05.08

The secretary of a London archbishop is being dragged through the
courts - for mistakenly falling 20p short on a bendy bus.

Rachel McKenzie, a committed Christian, has told the Evening Standard
of her despair at being branded a criminal for the first time at the
age of 54.

If convicted, she will be given a criminal record and ordered to pay
legal costs and a fine of up to £1,000. One lawyer suggested the case
could cost taxpayers up to £5,000.

Ms McKenzie was caught out last November as she boarded a No12 bendy
bus from her home in East Dulwich to her workplace in Southwark. She
swiped her Oyster card through the reader and, unaware that the
machine had beeped because she had insufficient funds, she took her
seat. But two stops before the end of a journey a ticket inspector got
on, checked her Oyster card and discovered she had just 70p on it -
rather than the 90p then needed for the journey.

Mrs McKenzie, who works for the Catholic archbishop of Southwark, told
the Standard: "He told me I was 20p short. I was really surprised. I
told him it was an innocent mistake, that I had swiped the card next
to the driver and he hadn't said anything and that I would pay the
difference.

"I reached to get out my purse but he said I couldn't do that and that
he had to report me. I thought that would be okay because I'll get the
chance to explain it was just a mistake. I never thought it would end
up with a criminal prosecution.

"It makes me think it is a ridiculous abuse of the legal system. I
made a genuine mistake and was honest about it because I was sure the
British legal system was a just one. I wonder about that now."

Ms McKenzie has enlisted the help of lawyers who are fighting her case
free. But Transport for London has refused to cave in and she has now
received a summons to appear before Sutton magistrates on 22 May.

Her legal adviser, Mark Stephens, said: "It is disgraceful. This
prosecution is likely to cost as much as £5,000 to recover 20p. This
is a scandalous abuse of the court system. She should have been
allowed to pay the difference or, at worst, pay a penalty fare." He
added that a criminal conviction could prevent MsMcKenzie working in
the community in future or make it difficult to obtain a visa to
travel to America.

TfL's legal department wrote to Ms McKenzie last week saying:
"Consistent with all cashless services, it is your responsibility to
ensure you have sufficient credit in your card to pay for your bus
journey."

The TfL enforcement policy says it seeks to be "firm but fair" and
aims to ensure prosecution is only considered where there is clear
evidence of irregular travel. It also says it will prosecute if the
offence occurred "in an area known to occasion high revenue loss".

Last night, TfL said: "Fare evasion is illegal. Fare dodgers cost
passengers using public transport millions of pounds every year."

Last year, more than 47,215 people received a £20 penalty fare and
more than 30,000 were prosecuted.

The case comes after a University of East London student was given a
criminal record for travelling one stop on a bus without a valid
ticket. Ashley Williams, 20, said her Oyster card beeped at her, but
the No38 left the stop in Hackney before she could alight. She was
taken to Stratford magistrates' court last September.
.

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