Police Issued Parking Ticket - Thinking of going to Court...

tazaa

Hi There,

I'm after some advice if possible following both myself and my partner getting a parking ticket today, issued by a Central Scotland Police Traffic Warden in Stirling.

We live in a residential street in the town centre, and on street parking is made up of a mixture of Pay and Display and Residents Permit Holders. We bought the house in August and properly moved in an October as we were doing the house up. In August we went to the Council and purchased a Residents Parking Permit at a cost of £60 for the year. Because they wanted our car registration documents (to show we lived in the town) and both our V5's were registered at the old address, the lady at the council provided us with permits which expired in 3 months, and asked us to come back in when we had got our V5's registered in the new address and she would exchange them for ones which had the expiry date on for the full year as we had purchased. Unfortunately, we completely forgot to go in and exchange them (with all the stress of moving house) and so the ones that were sat in our cars were out of date.

As mentioned, the tickets were issued by the Police, and the only options are to either pay the £30 or go to court. So, I am thinking about going to court, my argument being that although there was an expired permit in the cars, we have effectively paid the council for a full years permit, we just forgot to go in and change them.

Thoughts and comments would be appriciated, obviously the court option is quite daunting!!

Thanks in advice.

Pete

Fergie76

You will probably be better off posting this on pepipoo.

Tilt

I'm always careful about advising about situations where certain laws a differnet and this is one of those situs. Parking laws are different in Scotland but my gut feelings is the displaying aspect. You havn't mentioned it but I would guess that the FPN (fixed penalty notice) is for failing to display a valid permit in which case you have no realistic defense. I am happy to be corrected on this however.

NeverAgain_2

I think your first port of call will be Scottish Parking Appeals Service.

http://www.which.co.uk/cars/driving/driving-advice/how-to-appeal-a-parking-ticket/parking-tickets-in-scotland-and-ni/

Is there any mention of the appeal route on the back of the ticket?

muckybutt

NeverAgain wrote: »

I think your first port of call will be Scottish Parking Appeals Service.

http://www.which.co.uk/cars/driving/driving-advice/how-to-appeal-a-parking-ticket/parking-tickets-in-scotland-and-ni/

Is there any mention of the appeal route on the back of the ticket?

Its a POLICE ticket, SPAS ONLY deal with council tickets ! therefore the only way to appeal is to the court / sheriff, imo id accept you made a boob and goofed on not updating the permits. Going to court it always risky and if you loose you will have additional costs to pay on top.

forgotmyname

For £30 i wouldnt risk court, As mentioned the ticket is for failing to display a valid ticket not failing to
actually own one.

tazaa

Many thanks for all your replies. I have looked on the Central Scotland Police website today, and although nothing is mentioned on the FPN (which incidentally was issued for failing to display a valid ticket) it does mention that if you have any queries you can write to the Traffic Warden Supervisor at HQ. Long shot I know, but I'm thinking if I get the relevent documentation from the council, showing that I had paid for a full year and admitting my stupidity in forgetting to go in and exchange the temporary permit, he might be able to show some leniency... I've got 28 days so figure I may as well use this time to try and get them to write it off. Doubt the Warden Supervisor will have the authority to bin it but worth a shot..

muckybutt

No harm in trying, let us know how you go on with it