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A homeowner said they did not think they had to pay their TV licence fee because they claimed their pet was related to one of the Queen's dogs.
英國一家房主說他們覺得自己不該交電視牌照費，因為他們家的寵物和女王的一只狗有關系。
Other excuses given to officials by evaders last year included watching a stolen TV set, TV Licensing said.
英國電視牌照局還說，去年有人為了不交電視費編造出各種借口，包括“我們看的電視機是偷來的。”
More than 400,000 people were caught watching TV without a licence in 2012.
2012年，有40多萬英國人看電視不交牌照費。
UK residents are legally required to have a licence if they watch or record TV at the same time as it is broadcast or could face a fine of up to £1,000.
按照英國法律，居民觀看電視節目或在節目播出時錄像都要繳納電視牌照費，否則將面臨高達1000英鎊的罰款。
A colour TV licence costs £145.50 while a black-and-white licence costs £49. In January, TV Licensing revealed that more than 13,000 households across the UK were still using black-and-white television sets.
每臺彩色電視需繳納牌照費145.50英鎊，黑白電視49英鎊。一月份，英國電視牌照局發布公告，全英國還有超過1.3萬家電視用戶仍然使用黑白電視機。
Excuses for non-payment given last year included:
去年不付電視費的借口千奇百怪：
"Apparently my dog, which is a corgi, was related to the Queen's dog so I didn't think I needed a TV licence."
“我的狗狗是柯基犬，很明顯跟女王的寵物狗是親戚呀，所以我認為我不需要交電視費。”
"Why would I need a TV licence for a TV I stole? Nobody knows I've got it."
“我的電視機是偷來的，為啥還要交電視費？沒人知道我有電視。”
"Only my three-year-old son watches the TV. Can you take it out of the family allowance I receive for him? He watches it so he should pay."
“我家只有三歲的兒子看電視。你能直接從政府給我的家庭津貼里扣嗎？他看電視所以應該他付錢。”
"I had not paid as I received a lethal injection."
“我已經被執行注射死刑了，所以才沒交電視費。”
"I don't want to pay for a licence for a full year. Knowing my luck I'll be dead in six months and won't get value for money."
“我不想交全年的電視費。再有六個月我就死了，所以電視費交了也是白交。”
"I have lost weight recently and had to buy new clothes. That's why I could not afford to buy a TV licence."
“我最近變瘦了，得去買新衣服。所以我沒錢交電視費。”
"I could not pay for my TV licence because the Olympic torch was coming down my road and I could not get to the shop as the road was too busy."
“我去年沒付電視費，是因為當時奧運火炬傳到了我家附近的馬路上，路上人太多我去不了商店啊。”
"I don't watch the television; I just use it as a light in the dark."
“我不看電視，就拿它當燈而已。”
"My house was invaded by a squirrel which weed on my TV, so now it doesn't work properly."
“我家被松鼠入侵了，它在我的電視機里做了窩，所以現在電視不好用。”
TV Licensing spokesman Stephen Farmer said: "Some of the excuses are simply hilarious whilst others show a great deal of imagination and creativity but being caught without a valid TV licence is a criminal offence and no laughing matter.
英國電視牌照局發言人史蒂芬-法門說：“有些借口就是簡單搞笑，有些則顯示出驚人的想象力和創造力。但要是發現你沒有有效的電視牌照，那就是違法犯罪問題了，這可一點兒也不好笑。”
"Joking and wacky excuses apart, it's breaking the law to watch live television without a licence so anybody doing this risks prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000."
“先不說這些古怪惡搞的借口，在沒有牌照的情況下看電視就是違法行為，這些人面臨著被檢舉并交納1000英鎊的罰款的風險。”
