Confusing Parking Sign leads to fine

ginnersinner

Sounds like you're right - will need to see photos of sign though.

Wardens these days tend to take photos, but that's only really relevant if in response to your appeal they claim that you weren't in a 2 hours only space but a permit-holders only space, in which case it isn't up to you to prove you weren't, but up to them to prove you were.

Coupon-mad

Here are the direct links:

http://i48.tinypic.com/25s3joz.jpg

http://i49.tinypic.com/ek0ncp.jpg

I notice that the back of the PCN says 'appeal within 14 days' which I think may not be the correct wording that should be stated there. If PCN wording is flawed in any way then this is another appeal point (however I am not a PCN expert).

See if anyone else here can add further advice, otherwise post back asap with pics of that sign and the bay lines too, particularly the termination lines at both ends of the bay.

I suppose there's no harm in getting an informal appeal to this PCN in anyway, stating that you believe from the signage that you were parking in a shared-use bay which allowed you to stay for 2 hours, and therefore the contravention did not occur.

Say that if they reject your appeal at this stage then you require a copy of the CEO's notes (make them do some work for you) and also copies of all photos of your vehicle allegedly parked in contravention, taken by the CEO.

If they reject this informal appeal, then you'll get a chance to appeal formally at the NTO stage, and many LAs also extend the discount period then as well.

peter_the_piper

AP777 wrote: »

Yes veF327 that looks exactly like the sign. Thanks for your re-assurance too. Only thing is if the road did also have Permit holder only spaces, how will I prove which space I was in???? Will they have taken a photo?

Ask for pics, its up to them to prove you were in contravention, not the other way round.

butler_helen

According to that sign you can be in a permit holder space for 2 hours so I wouldn't worry. However if you arrived say 1 hour before permit holder only time and stayed for 30 minutes into it, then you might have a problem. Apologies if you've posted your times up- I can't see them.

You should be ok with Reading and appealing- I live in a zone with those
signs up and have had visitors with pcns from overzealous parking wardens- we have appealed 3 and won 3!

butler_helen

Ahhh sorry just re-read and opened links- you look to be parked ok. Assuming there's no permit only sections on that road and the sign applie to where you parked. If you're not local to Reading I could take a look and photos for you as I live a stones throw away. Pm me if I can help.

DaveF327

AP777 wrote: »

Only thing is if the road did also have Permit holder only spaces, how will I prove which space I was in???? Will they have taken a photo?

As peter_the_piper said, let them show you the photos, but you really need to be sure you hadn't strayed into the permit holder only bays. The different types of bay should have a distinguishing double marking between them and the placement of the two types of sign should be clear. Your own photos of the surrounding area would be a great help on here.

Unfortunately, Google streetview does not include Waylen Street, I can only see a lot of bays on Google earth, but not that clearly.

AP777

Amazing! Many thanks for all the replies.

I've checked today and my PCN is now on the Reading website, with photos too, some uploaded here:

http:
//i44.tinypic.com/28bsp3l.jpg

Seeing the sign again, I notice the additional sign on the right side, which I didn't mention before. I guess they are going to say that cars parked to the right are 'Permit Holders Only'. However, there was no space directly behind me because there was an entrance (notice the lowered kerb), so surely the main part of the sign '....Or 2 hours no return in 2 hours' must apply to the parking bay I am in too?

I'll try appealing tomorrow.

peter_the_piper

I think that what you think is a lowered kerb is in fact a part of your cars shadow. Unless there are faults worth pursuing on the ticket I think its not a viable one to appeal. Wait fot others to agree or otherwise.

Edit. The only thing I can see is the "within" bit on the back of the pcn but I don't think this is good enough to run with on its own.

maninthestreet

AP777 wrote: »

Amazing! Many thanks for all the replies.

I've checked today and my PCN is now on the Reading website, with photos too, some uploaded here:

http:
//i44.tinypic.com/28bsp3l.jpg

Seeing the sign again, I notice the additional sign on the right side, which I didn't mention before. I guess they are going to say that cars parked to the right are 'Permit Holders Only'. However, there was no space directly behind me because there was an entrance (notice the lowered kerb), so surely the main part of the sign '....Or 2 hours no return in 2 hours' must apply to the parking bay I am in too?

I'll try appealing tomorrow.

The third photo, the one that is of the sign itself, seems to show no entrance - there is just a row of terraced houses.

Coupon-mad

Here's a direct link to the photos:

http://i44.tinypic.com/28bsp3l.jpg

There is a very similar thread on pepipoo.com at the moment (don't think it's your thread though?!). It's the same sign design as yours and some replies about appealing have been given already. I will try to find that thread later on, but am on my work lunch break at the moment.

You could have a look for the thread in the list here, it's a recent thread (this week) and the person parked to the right, as you did. Look through and check out people's pics of signs:

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showforum=30

You could always post your own thread there as well, read the FAQs first and you will see that you can add images straight away over there.