Got a parking ticket/faulty machine

Pennylane

Just received a parking fine and I am SO :mad::mad:

I took my elderly disabled mother out, went to a council run car park. Fee was £1 for 2 hrs. Tried to pay at machine and £1 went straight through. I tried several times, then tried another £1. No joy. We had no more coins between us so I laid her Blue Disabled Badge on the dashboard (and set the time as evidence) and wrote a polite note saying that machine would not accept my coins and left that next to the badge.

We came back just over an hour later and got a £75 ticket (or £40 if paid in 14 days). Written on ticket was "note on dash. Tried 2 x £1 coins 10.45. I tried coins, it worked." That made me so mad because his coins might well have worked but mine most definitely would not. It was the only ticket machine available so I couldn't think what else to do.

Neil_B

Who issued this? There is no such penalty as £75 from a Council reduced to £40-.

Sounds possibly ppc.

Pennylane

Well I have it in black and white Neil. It is called a Standard Charge and is issued by XXX County Services on behalf of XXXX District Council and quotes the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984

It also informs me that I can offer mitigating circumstances and I will be doing just that!!

Neil_B

Ah, I apologise. Me jumping to conclusions.

More than 90% of 'tickets' are penalties under decrimnalised legislation and, as I said, none of £75.
Yours is a 'fine' under criminal legislation RTRA 1984.

In some ways not so bad but generally harder to fight cos less avenues.

Your only option is to explain through their appeals procedure. If they don't wanna play then your only recourse is in Maggy's Court which, generally, is not advisable as a negative outcome will be more expensive.

Blanket National BB rules do not permit parking in P&D car parks and most P&D bays. Many Councils (you've obscured yours for some reason?) do allow this. You should check the local rules because issuers do make mistakes.

Issues with the faulty machine should be on record and you could ask for maintenance logs in your appeal - along with warden notes at the time and particularly any machine check they made. In a decriminalised appeal a Council failure to respond to that would almost certainly lose for the Council. In front of a Mag, however, it may mean diddly.

greenface

As far a i am aware council parking by us (merseyside/cheshire/wirral/wales/gmanc)and all others parking is free for blue badge holders. Sometimes i have paid in other areas because im not sure only to find out it was free

TheBogsDollocks

Any chance you can upload the the charge notice both sides? If not can you copy out the legal jargon.

You need to get hold of the parking places order from the council to see what direction it gives for when a machine is faulty. You may find that it will assist you greatly as it may state about disabled parking. Act now.

Pennylane

Well it's 2 weeks tomorrow & I've heard not a word. I wrote to them (with my mitigating circumstances) on 11 June. Sent it Recorded Delivery and they signed for it on 12 June.

Will update as soon as I hear anything.

The Bogsdollocks - have tried to find info on council site but nothing relevant.

Viper_7

If you hear nothing back, write to them again claiming expenses incurred.

Pennylane

:rotfl:
Still heard nothing and have now left 3 messages on the council voicemail as well.

Pennylane

Good news!:j Received a letter today saying my explanation has been accepted and they are waiving the payment of the standard charge.

I was quite looking forward to spending time with Bad Girls. I'd saved a few good paperbacks, got my paints ready and me knitting ...........:rotfl::rotfl:

RetroBob

I parked at a Peterborough City Council car park tonight, the single machine was not working as other users also found. We were all fined and so will of course challenge it. Thanks for the info.