Paid for ticket, fell off screen = fine

jillski_2

I have received a parking fine.
I bought a ticket, put it on dashboard - no sticky bit to put it on windscreen.
When I returned i'd received a parking fine as the ticket had fallen to the floor and the attendant didn't see it.
Wrote to complain and they said that the ticket wasn't displayed properly, that's why they were fining me and "please find enclosed a ticket holder for your future use". This is a plastic wallet thingy which sticks to the windscreen. Surely an admission that one is needed to display the ticket properly. Phoned the council concerned but would not move - pay up or next stage court. Anything I can do - feel inclined to let them take me to court.

lisyloo

Can you explain in more detail exactly what happened.

In my car there is a relatively flat surface underneath the windscreen called a dashboard.
In fact it's not flat, there is a downward slope from the drivers side towards the windscreen.
If I stuck a ticket to the bottom of my windscreen and it fell off then it would simply drop a few centimeters onto the dashboard.

Did you stick it a lot higher up i.e. above the drivers seat.

In which case in future I would advise you to either
a) put it on the dashboard where it's clearly visible
b) stick it right at the bottom of the windscreen so it simply falls onto the dashboard but is still visible

It is your responsibility to display the ticket and you didn't comply.
I don't think a holder is needed nor has there been an admission.

Personally I would put it on the dashboard as the holder they've given you could still fall off in temperature extremes.

I don't think you stand a chance and you would be much better off paying up.

Where is their admission? They have simply offered you a holder.

rdwarr

That's a bit unsympathetic (and not particularly friendly) - it's not like we all drive the same make of car with the same shaped dashboard. For example, my Volvo comes complete with a special clip to hold tickets. I returned to it a couple of weeks ago to find somebody writing out a PCN because he hadn't noticed it! Fortunately I pointed it out and all was well.
I think the OP is better off paying up though. There will never be an admission that a ticket holder is a requirement or else thousands of previous fines would be quashed.

jillski_2

Lisyloo - do you work for the council parking dept - if not I recommend you apply for a job there you would be well qualified. By the way I know what a dashboard is.

ckerrd

Can you send them you ticket to prove that you had purchased one?
I suspect it may depend on the mood of whomever in officialdom you speak to.
Technically they are right but depends whether common sense kicks in or not.

lisyloo

That's a bit unsympathetic

Perhaps. I wasn't aware the OP wanted sympathy.
I thought they wanted advice on their situation.
I know a little bit about law and I honestly don't think they would have a case as they didn't comply with the instructions.
If they take it to court I think there is a risk they would lose money so I wouldn't advise it.

If you want sympathy then yes this defies common sense and it's an unfair world. However that still doesn't mean it's advisable to go to court.

do you work for the council parking dept

No.

By the way I know what a dashboard is.

So can you put your tickets on it so that they are displayed?
Seems like less risk of them falling off a dashboard to me.

it's not like we all drive the same make of car with the same shaped dashboard

I'm not familiar with every model and make of car, but are there any that you couldn't put a ticket on safely?

didi_nodebt

Jillski, yes you do have a case, however it really depends on the local authority who issued the pcn and your relationship with them.

If this local authority have issued you similar tickets in the past, it would be difficult for you to get out of this, not that you can't. However they will base their action on your past record and its 50 / 50 if it goes to PATAS.

If you have never been issued with a ticket from this local authority, then you do have a strong case. In situations as this, if this is your first ticket then the ticket should be canclled and you should just get a warning.

It really all depends on your relationship with the council, lets know what you decide to do and if you need further help.

goodluck.

tab99_uk

jillski wrote:

I have received a parking fine.
I bought a ticket, put it on dashboard - no sticky bit to put it on windscreen.
When I returned i'd received a parking fine as the ticket had fallen to the floor and the attendant didn't see it.
Wrote to complain and they said that the ticket wasn't displayed properly, that's why they were fining me and "please find enclosed a ticket holder for your future use". This is a plastic wallet thingy which sticks to the windscreen. Surely an admission that one is needed to display the ticket properly. Phoned the council concerned but would not move - pay up or next stage court. Anything I can do - feel inclined to let them take me to court.

when did u get this parking ticket date time if it was yesterday just tell them it was windy and roffs got blown of houses what is a ticket to this weather.

robby-01

lisyloo wrote:

Can you explain in more detail exactly what happened.

In my car there is a relatively flat surface underneath the windscreen called a dashboard.
In fact it's not flat, there is a downward slope from the drivers side towards the windscreen.
If I stuck a ticket to the bottom of my windscreen and it fell off then it would simply drop a few centimeters onto the dashboard.

Did you stick it a lot higher up i.e. above the drivers seat.

In which case in future I would advise you to either
a) put it on the dashboard where it's clearly visible
b) stick it right at the bottom of the windscreen so it simply falls onto the dashboard but is still visible

It is your responsibility to display the ticket and you didn't comply.
I don't think a holder is needed nor has there been an admission.
.

Lisyloo in your eagerness to jump down the throat of the op and offer a lesson in motoring terminology as well as advise on were and how to display a ticket.
It would appear that you have failed to read and understand his post properly.If you slowly read it once more you will see that the ticket in question was not the type that sticks to your windscreen it was the kind that lays on your dash.
The op has paid to park in a controlled zone and recieved a fine for failing to display a ticket in the correct manner.
Lets put this into perspective.It is a tiny bit of paper thats sits on your dashboard,it can easily get blown off if a window is left slightly open,it can also slip down and many cars have a black area at the bottom of the screen if the attendant cant read it properly you get a ticket.
The fine for not displaying this small bit of paper correctly is 60 pounds were I live.
Exactly the same fine that is issued for parking on double yellow lines and the same as a fixed penalty notice for jumping a red light or speeding.
People get fined less in court for slashing in a doorway than they do for not having a bit of paper in the right place in their car how is that just.
Jillski you must appeal the ticket you will probably not win,but so what .You must appeal and I urge everyone who gets a ticket to appeal it also.
This is no longer about parking it is about raising money for the councils,and for what were does it go?Read the jobs section in the guardian and you will get some idea.
Appeal the ticket at best it will be waived at worst you will have to pay.But at least you will help clog up the system and make them do something for there 60 quid.

Highland_Lass_2

This happened to my son and he got a fine in. I wrote to them and explained that it must have blown onto the floor when the door was shut and enclosed the parking ticket as proof that he did pay to park. He was lucky obviously and didn't hear another thing. This was 2 years ago. It's worth the price of a stamp to send it to them with a letter.

sandieb

Good advice Highland Lass - yes send them the ticket but I think I would take a photocopy of it too in case the ticket gets lost in the post.