I got issued a rail fine in France. Do I have to pay?

Question

My friend and I live in the UK, and we did a university charity hitchhike (jailbreak) which lead us to France. The idea was to get as far away from campus within 36 hours without paying for transport, food or accommodation. While in France, we jumped on the TGV, without a ticket, with the aim of convincing the controller to let us travel for free. We had official documentation about the event and were wearing charity t shirts. Unfortunately we were unable to convince him and have been issued a fine of £150 each. We have yet to pay as instead we gave him our names and passport numbers. We are going to write a letter to SNCF explaining the situation to try and get our fines revoked, but if that fails, we were wondering what would happen if we just didn't pay?

Answer 1

It was not in the controller's power to overlook the fact that you did not have a valid ticket, and you were lucky not to be marched up to the rail police on arrival. My son-in-law who had a valid ticket on a TGV walked up to the head of the train before it reached the station and was fined the same as you have because the controller found him standing in a first class carriage, and he had to pay there and then. I even know someone who had a valid ticket but did not "compost" it correctly on departure and was fined for it.



One of my daughters participated in the same kind of money raising event from Uni and wrote to Air France BEFORE she set out and they did give her a free ticket, so you lacked forethought and took a serious risk for nothing. Nowadays passports are scanned and if intelligence does come up about you, you will be in serious trouble. Incidentally the French police do track you in the UK. We were issued with a fine in Paris for leaving the car in a parking where there was going to be some kind of event later that we did not know about, and we had to pay up even though there was no notice to warn us of the fact.



You broke the law, and surely these charity events do not expect you to break rules to raise money for their cause. I am afraid you were irresponsible and will have to suffer for it and pay up if your appeal fails.

Answer 2

SNCF may decide to drop the matter as it will cost them more than the fine is worth to pursue you. However, if the matter is passed to the French police then you may find yourselves in hot water should you ever return to the country.

Answer 3

All lightrails, RIverLine, Hudson-Bergen Lightrail, and Newark city Subway are evidence-of-fee equipment. Did you purchased super in view which you probably did no longer validaded your one way or ten holiday tickets? those tickets would desire to be examined UPON using lightrails. in case you pass away in NJ, suited place would be to paid in individual at New Jersey Transit cops or vist interior sight station. you may attempt Port Authority police additionally.

Answer 4

I got one in Italy and when I made it home, they didn't send anything, so I didn't have to pay, that's what probably will happen

Answer 5

yes you do. They can go thru your local authorities and who needs that? Just pay it and be done with it.