Got the train home tonight, from King's Cross, and walked down to country end of train to get some space. About 10 minutes before the train left, a guy came down and sat near me and kept looking around. He was either looking for someone or looked otherwise concerned about something.
As the train left, I didn't think anything more of it and he settled down until we got to Potters Bar and two RPIs boarded. Turns out this chap didn't have a ticket (ah, so that's why he looked stressed), and when asked just pulled out £20 with a smile on his face.
At first the RPI didn't say anything as he was presented the £20. He then asked where the guy had come from (King's Cross, so he didn't lie) and where he was going to. After that, he asked why a ticket wasn't purchased at King's Cross and the guy said 'because the gates were open and I thought I'd get away with it.
Surprising honesty from the chap yet again, so why then did the RPI say he would have to pay a PF? He had the means to pay (cash in hand, although his fare was above £20 so he had to dig into his pockets for a bit more) and openly admitted he didn't bother to buy a ticket. He had plenty of time too, although to be fair the RPI didn't know that.
So, stupid me, asked the RPI why he was giving a PF and he just said 'and why shouldn't I?'. I said he had admitted fare evasion, but he said that was the appropriate action to take. I didn't want to get into an argument so I chose to shut up, partly in case the passenger took exception to me getting involved. As it was, the passenger just said 'I'm from France' and grinned at me. Is it okay if you're from France then? Perhaps I should try my luck over there without a ticket!
Perhaps a PF was the best option if he was from abroad, but the RPI didn't know that. Surely you don't give PFs in these cases? Why can FCC be so tough on some people and then happily dish out a PF to someone who will clearly chance it as he'd admitted as much!
As the train left, I didn't think anything more of it and he settled down until we got to Potters Bar and two RPIs boarded. Turns out this chap didn't have a ticket (ah, so that's why he looked stressed), and when asked just pulled out £20 with a smile on his face.
At first the RPI didn't say anything as he was presented the £20. He then asked where the guy had come from (King's Cross, so he didn't lie) and where he was going to. After that, he asked why a ticket wasn't purchased at King's Cross and the guy said 'because the gates were open and I thought I'd get away with it.
Surprising honesty from the chap yet again, so why then did the RPI say he would have to pay a PF? He had the means to pay (cash in hand, although his fare was above £20 so he had to dig into his pockets for a bit more) and openly admitted he didn't bother to buy a ticket. He had plenty of time too, although to be fair the RPI didn't know that.
So, stupid me, asked the RPI why he was giving a PF and he just said 'and why shouldn't I?'. I said he had admitted fare evasion, but he said that was the appropriate action to take. I didn't want to get into an argument so I chose to shut up, partly in case the passenger took exception to me getting involved. As it was, the passenger just said 'I'm from France' and grinned at me. Is it okay if you're from France then? Perhaps I should try my luck over there without a ticket!
Perhaps a PF was the best option if he was from abroad, but the RPI didn't know that. Surely you don't give PFs in these cases? Why can FCC be so tough on some people and then happily dish out a PF to someone who will clearly chance it as he'd admitted as much!