grandad wrote:
What legel right do they have to issue fines?
None whatsoever, in fact by demanding money under threat of an undesired action they themselves could be commiting a serious crime (10 year imprisonment) ;
Extortion ;
Extortion (also called shakedown, outwresting, and exaction) is a criminal offense of obtaining money, property, or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion.
Coercion ;
Coercion is the practice of forcing another party to act in an involuntary manner (whether through action or inaction) by use of intimidation or threats or some other form of pressure or force, and describes a set of various different similar types of forceful actions that violate the free will of an individual to induce a desired response.
Extortion, which is not limited to the taking of property, involves the verbal or written instillation of fear that something will happen to the victim if he or she does not comply with the extortionist's will.
And possibly ;
Blackmail ;
Blackmail is the use of threats to prevent another from engaging in a lawful occupation.