Railway Station Parking Ticket

PooroldSimon

Is an East Coast Railway a Private Parking Ticket or is it a Public Body?
My Ticket has the words "Parking Penalty Notice".
It says its an Offence Contrary to a Railway Byelaw.
Just wanting to know best tactic for disputing it.
Any help appreciated, Thanks -Simon

peter_the_piper

Where does it say to appeal to? Magistrates court or to a po box etc?

PooroldSimon

Says if I wish to dispute then should write to address on ticket:
Revenue Protection Support Services, with a PO Box number
I guess this means its private?
-Thanks for your interest -Simon

trisontana

If it is a private parking ticket and they have used the words ""Parking Penalty Notice" then they are in deep trouble.

Does it mention anywhere in the ticket about magistrates courts?

Edit, just found this on the East Coast website:-

Penalty Parking Notices



Why are Parking Penalty Notices issued?

East Coast Main Line Company Ltd (East Coast) operates a parking penalty scheme in order to discourage indiscriminate parking and parking without payment.

The parking tickets that East Coast issue are called Parking Penalty Notices (PPN). They are issued in accordance with Section 14 of the Railway Byelaws (see below). They require you to pay a penalty, do not result in points on a driving licence, however, may result in a criminal record if the case is subsequently heard in the Magistrate’s Court or a judgment against you if heard in the County Court.

PPNs may be issued on roads within East Coast managed premises or in East Coast managed car parks.

Revenue Protection Support Services (RPSS) based in Portsmouth deal with the administration of the PPN scheme on behalf of East Coast. Prosecutions are dealt with by East Coast’s Prosecution Unit.

If I am issued a Parking Penalty Notice, do I need to pay immediately?

When issued with a PPN Notice you have 14 days to take advantage of paying the reduced penalty of £30.00. If not paid within this time the penalty increases to £60.00 which must be paid within 30 days of the PPN being issued.

If you wish to dispute your liability to pay this penalty a statement giving an explanation must be sent to RPSS within 14 days. This appeals service is independent of East Coast and will consider your appeal based on the facts concerning the case.

Please note that appealing does not negate your liability to pay the amount owing within 30 days.

How can I pay for my Parking Penalty Notice?

By Cheque or Postal Order made payable to Revenue Protection Support Services (RPSS), with your name and address endorsed on the reverse and posted to:

Revenue Protection Support Services (RPSS), PO Box 89, Portsmouth. PO1 1EG.

Credit/Debit card - Telephone 02392-778748 within the 30 day deadline or you may accrue non refundable administration fees. Please note RPSS do not accept American Express or Diners Card

What do I do if my appeal with RPSS is not successful?

RPSS have liaised with East Coast regarding your appeal, however if you are dissatisfied with the decision or the way that your appeal has been handled, please contact Passenger Focus, an independent watchdog, who will be happy to review your comments.

That is rather confusing as it mentions both County and Magistrates courts.

trisontana

After doing some further research it looks as though this ticket is legitimate. There was a similar query to this over on PePipoo a couple of years ago, and the general consensus was that the motorist would have to pay up. The mention of the magistrates court is the killer.

custardy

PooroldSimon wrote: »

Is an East Coast Railway a Private Parking Ticket or is it a Public Body?
My Ticket has the words "Parking Penalty Notice".
It says its an Offence Contrary to a Railway Byelaw.
Just wanting to know best tactic for disputing it.
Any help appreciated, Thanks -Simon

what are you disputing? that you paid for the parking or hadn't stayed over the time?

Coblcris

I do not wish to contradict tristontana, who is an eminent contributor.
But I would urge further review of the facts before moving to payment.

I do not believe that the regulations permit a reduced amount, the payment is fixed.

Also what has it been issued for ? Railway byelaws are limited and it is not unknown for the reasons on a 'real' byelaw' ticket to actually be ultra vires with regard to what acts they can penalise for.

This:-
"or a judgment against you if heard in the County Court."
also gives me pause for thought.
it may be that the railway company is seeking a civil gain on the coattails of a purported criminal contravention.

Furthermore the quoted page says:_
"The parking tickets that East Coast issue are called Parking Penalty Notices (PPN). They are issued in accordance with Section 14 of the Railway Byelaws (see below)."
and there is nothing pertinent 'below.

I would obtain a copy of the byelaws that they purport to be claiming under as soon as possible.
Although they are likely to be standard they may not be.

What 'offence' was the ticket issued for ?

trisontana

This is certainly a tricky, especially that mention of both magistrates and County Court.

vax2002

As far as i know a railway byelaw ticket can not be issued by anyone else other than a Transport police officer or BTP community support officer and certainly not by a private company.
who issued the ticket, it needs a name and officer number.
Hence why they issue them to fair dodgers they usually have a BTP officer with them because you do not have to contract with a member of staff or give them any details, nor can they detain you.
Look at the ticket for an officer number.

Livingthedream

Genuine byelaw tickets are quite rare, as it's easy and more profitable for the Train company to get a private parking company to issue a ticket then chase you up for payment.

If it's not a genuine byelaw ticket and it's a PPC ticket then follow the advice of the regulars on this part of the forum, ie ignore.

Is it possible for you to upload a scan of your ticket, but blank out any personnel details.

My advice send this member 'Stigy' a PM he's very good with railway bylaws and should be able to help, if he hasn't answer this thread by then.

TwistedPsycho

RPSS also deal with Unpaid Fare and Penalty Fare notices for a number of train operating companies, so it may be a case either way.

Railway Bylaws: http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/legislation/regs/railwaysbyelaws.pdf