parking ticket madness

daffas6688

Can someone explain to me why after 15years of parking at my friends do I get a parking ticket? I parked in a side road near hers as I always do. It's a narrow rd so you have to park half on and half off the pavement. I see one of those beloved smart cars pull up. I eyed them with suspicion and even staightened my wheels more ( as I have had a ticket once for my wheels pointing into road!) . They watched me get out the car and go round the corner to my friends. I asked her if anything had changed regarding parking and she no none that she had heard of. another friend parked in front of me barely 5 minutes later as she always done, and I enquired had she seen the smart car, she hadn't. She parks in the same spot at least four times a week and knew of no new rules. A week or so later I was amazed to get a parking ticket stating you can't park half on pavement. Yes there are rules but can't see how they would be inplemented as 95% of the cars where I live have to park like that. Anyway there is a sign in road opposite saying you have to park two wheels and two off, and this road is exactly the same width. If I had parked all on road I would have made it difficult for a van to pass. The thing is the council had tarmacked over the lines that used to on this piece of road and hadn't got round to repainting them I appealed and lost but someone else in the road appealed and won! Do I pay and appeal to the next place to appeal at parking appeals Chertsey and hope for my money back or risk paying £105 if I fail?

Coupon-mad

You don't risk paying £105 if you fail, you rick possibly being told to pay the full fine (presumably £70). £105 only comes into play if you do nothing and they issue a charge certificate.

You must NEVER pay if you want to appeal further. Pay and it's game over. You should also be aware that most Councils refuse most informal first appeals, because they can and because they just want the money. It never means that you do not have a case, you do, so please don't just give up at the first hurdle that Councils make sure most people fall at!

I would appeal further, if you say that there used to be lines on the road which have been tarmaced over, then it's possible that the Traffic Order for the street still states the old version. Therefore you win, you are in the right.

There's also the argument that the Council have to show that they considered and for some reason discounted CEO enforcement on foot in that street, as they can only use a camera in places where it's been decided that CEO enforcement is sensitive/difficult. There also have to be signs showing camera enforcement I believe. See page 20 onwards of the most recent adjudicators' joint report (click here), read carefully the 'camera enforcement' section, including why some cases won on appeal.

Most people who appeal as far as the adjudicator win or the Council fold before the hearing. So your risk is minimal and anyway, and it's even more likely that you will win if you heed advice on this pepipoo forum:

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

Read a few threads that are about any Council PCNs, to get the hang of what to post about your PCN. Read the FAQs and sticky threads at the top of the main board view here:

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?act=idx

Then go back to the first view of the pepipoo council tickets forum and register and start a new topic once cleared to post (usually in a day). Copy what others have done in that you will need to show both sides of your PCN (minus car reg and PCN number but leave all dates/times/location visible). Also show the posters there a pic of the place where you parked and a copy of your appeal and the rejection letter.

Knowing what I know from reading pepipoo regularly, I would appeal ANY Council PCN all ther way to the adjudicator without hesitiation even if I didn't have much of case. You do, and that's only based on your brief outline, although the fact that you have parked there for years is irrelevant to the appeal.

So, check out pepipoo asap and post your pics there in a new thread. Wait for the replies and reply yourself if you want them to explain/expand on a point.

And meanwhile, email the Council right now to ask for the Traffic Order for that street. Do NOT mention the PCN, there is no need and it could be confused as an appeal. I always advise emailing in a family member's name so there is no connection to the PCN or the registered keeper, when asking for a Traffic Order. Pepipoo will help you to decipher the Order.

Come back and let us know when you win.