Train fare evasion criminal, bus fare evasion civil?

[ExToC]

Ok, we all know there are a variety of offences making fare evasion a criminal matter on the railway, but I couldn’t find anything suggesting that doing the same on other modes was a specific offence.

Were the rail barons of the 1800s just particularly good at getting their rights enshrined in law?

 

[tspaul26]

Fare evasion on stage buses is a criminal offence under section 25(3) of the Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981.

For taxis, the Theft Act 1978 criminalises making off without payment.

Fare evasion is a scourge on society and should be stamped on harder than it is currently.

 

[Sonic1234]

Parking tickets are a civil matter though

 

[Haywain]

Parking tickets are a civil matter though

Not always, but that's not fare evasion.

 

[Titfield]

Were the rail barons of the 1800s just particularly good at getting their rights enshrined in law?

"Law" developed rapidly during the Industrial Revolution as new situations arose - the advent of the railways being a good example. The law initially was relatively unsophisticated and it took a great deal of time for it to develop (often by case) and become more nuanced.

 

[island]

Parking tickets are a civil matter though

Depends on the ticket.

 

[RPI]

It would appear that during the pioneering days of the railways, fare evasion was rife, hence why it was included in the Regulation of Railways act 1889

 

[island]

It would appear that during the pioneering days of the railways, fare evasion was rife, hence why it was included in the Regulation of Railways act 1889

Even earlier – the Railway Clauses Consolidation Act of 1845 included sections for “penalty on passengers practicing frauds on the company”.

 

[tspaul26]

Parking tickets are a civil matter though

Not always, but that's not fare evasion.

Depends on the ticket.

Quite. The place I am sitting as I type this is not subject to decriminalised parking enforcement.