Parking ticket rant!

JimmyTheWig

Neil_B wrote: »

since most posters here believed the OP, why would a Magistrate not?

I totally believe the OP. I see they've got nothing to gain by coming on here with a pack of lies.
However, if with no proof the OP can go in front of a magistrate and get off by telling this story then what's to stop 100 other people who didn't help a lost child telling the magistrate the same thing?

Ultimately I believe the OP did the right thing and the council did the right thing. It may be a dichotomy, but I don't see how it can be any other way...

sleepystar1975

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

I totally believe the OP. I see they've got nothing to gain by coming on here with a pack of lies.
However, if with no proof the OP can go in front of a magistrate and get off by telling this story then what's to stop 100 other people who didn't help a lost child telling the magistrate the same thing?

Ultimately I believe the OP did the right thing and the council did the right thing. It may be a dichotomy, but I don't see how it can be any other way...

This is true, if I tried to argue my way out of paying, then it does open a can of worms for less than honest folk who will tell a !!!! and bull story to get out of paying.
Of course the coucil/parking guy was right to issue the ticket, I had indeed overstayed my moneys worth. They aren't to know where the driver is, jujst that they are displaying an expired ticket. My initial rant was about the fact that helping someone out has left me out of pocket, and at a time when I could really do with the money (I have been off sick from work since July, after my op, so money is extremely tight!). Yes, if there was a way I could have got out of paying, I would have taken it, I would be foolish not to. Who wants to fork out £35 and have nothing in return?

If my ticket had expired while I was standing talking, or still shopping I guess I wouldn't begrudge paying so much, as that is entirely my own doing, or even if the mother of the child had actually noticed her child was missing, or could bring herself to say "thanks" to me for the effort I went to to get her child back to her, but all she did was turn her back on me and start ranting at the little girl, using language I would be ashamed to use on a football terrace, let alone to a small girl, then she carried on her phone conversation! Like another poster said, some people really don't deserve their kids.

I'm off back into that town this afternoon to pay the charge, and hope I don't encounter any missing children on the way.
Last night I had the wierdest dream that when I went to pay, the person I had to go to was in fact the mother of the lost girl:mad:

JimmyTheWig

As I said earlier, just think how you'd feel if you left that child alone. As gutting and as unfair as it is, at least you've got the moral highground.

Neil_B

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

It may be a dichotomy, but I don't see how it can be any other way...

Derek Bentley

Timothy Evans

George Kelly

Mahmood Hussein Mattan

---- need I go on?

I'm glad there's another 'way'.

JimmyTheWig

Neil, I don't quite think that the OP's problem quite equates to those miscariages of justice.
I take your point. But still don't see an answer.

Coblcris

Neil did not quote any cases he merely referred to dangerous individuals.
it is not a full list of all of those in our society.

sleepystar1975

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

As I said earlier, just think how you'd feel if you left that child alone. As gutting and as unfair as it is, at least you've got the moral highground.

All the other people managed to walk past her and not bat an eyelid, shocking really, especially as the lady ahead of me had two children with her. I just couldn't do it, I hate seeing anyone cry, especially a little-y. Not sure it's the "mum" gene in me, or just the way I am, but there is no way I wouldn't have stopped to say "what's the matter poppet" or something.

I have felt that awful sick to the core feeling when you look around and realise that the little'un isn't toddling alongside you, and wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Just would have been nice if the little girls Mum showed any remorse at her little'un wandering off. She had sat her at the table behind her (with her back to her) with a pile of McD's colouring sheets and a few crayons, so it's no wonder she didn't notice her go. The way she spoke to the little'un when I bought her back was disgusting too. I tossed and turned all night whittling away. I'm not saying for a second I am pure mouthed, but I try my best to mind my P's and Q's infront of DD.
I was talking to a friend last night, and she said this kind of Mum will probably loose the girl again and again, and I must admit, should I ever see her on her own again, I would be more inclined to call social services than the police!

Well, the ticket is all paid now. I paid it in person yesterday. I must admit, I was a little twitchy about getting another ticket though. To pay in person, you have to go to the council offices, take a ticket and wait your turn etc. I parked in their Pay and display carpark, naivly bought an hours ticket thinking it'd be a pop-in and go thing, but 45 minutes, I was still there. I was about to get another ticket when they called my number, I got back to the car with 9 minutes left this time - phew! Would have been horribly ironic if I got another ticket for that!

virii

Neil_B wrote: »

Quite why you think this sorry story is relevant ot the lady's case is beyond me.

I certainly hope that no one follows your example. There are many very valid avenues for successfully appealing various tickets. Your kind of stance is likely to cause you further problems -- as it did.

For reference>

Yellow lines are nothing to do with the Police. The specifications are defined by DfT. In Edinburgh parking enforcement is decriminalised (unlike this case) and enforced by the Council.

There is no such thing as ''Registered Owner'' of a vehicle in this Country. The 'owner' (at the time of contravention) is liable for decriminalised PCNs. Quite why you think the Sheriff's Officers have finished with you is beyond me.

The only curiousity is how a Council come to pay compensation for something that appears to have arisen because of a deception by you? Did I read that correctly? Possibly a criminal matter and a daft thing to post on a public forum.

Neither can I understand why they would waive the tow and storage charges. They need no further excuse to remove a vehicle other than the fact that it has been left parked 'in contravention'.

Maybe I've misunderstood or maybe not quite the whole story.

Well, the council took it upon themselves to lift my car without notice, if I was parked in a pay and display and my ticket expired even by 5 mins they would lift the car and issue a ticket totalling £135, when I asked about this by phone, they told me that basically since I never paid my parking tickets they would lift my car without warning when it was illegaly parked, they never advised me of this by letter etc which surely is wrong.

So, when the car was transferred to my GF in her name, they thought I was still driving the vehicle, but the car did not belong to me, they never checked and lifted her car which should have been ticketed, hence the compensation for her loss of earnings etc.

As for Sherrif Officers I believe the council has backed down

I say screw them basically.