Council ticket in Manchester - help! :(

Mr:T_4

I recently got ticketed in Manchester :mad: by parking in an area off a main road. The area does not contain any road markings apart from a dotted line separating it from the main road. At the time of parking up, there were several cars parked in the area and I slotted mine into a space between two cars (one is still on my right at the time of taking pictures).

Parking in this area does not obstruct any traffic on the main road (see pics - sorry links not working as im a new user) and hence i thought it was a parking area.

can I appeal this ticket for any reason?

Ticket says ‘parked in a restricted street where waiting and loading/unloading restrictions are in force. – however there aren’t any restrictions displayed near the site, no signs on a lamppost and no road markings (eg ‘no parking’ or ‘no loading’) – see pics

It also says ‘Tax Disc: UNCLEAR’ – however as it can be seen from the picture, all the details can be clearly seen on the disc (first letter of my reg is T). If the CEO has noted the expiry date, he/she must have been able to see the tax disc!! – see pic

The ‘observed from’ section shows the CEO didn’t wait any length of time before issuing a ticket – shouldn’t they be waiting like 5 or 10 mins or so?

Any help on reasons for appeal would be great!

Pics: (delete space after h)

h ttp://i40.tinypic.com/wa1qac.jpg
h ttp://i42.tinypic.com/juepuw.jpg
h ttp://i40.tinypic.com/mbjyix.jpg
h ttp://i44.tinypic.com/wme2c7.jpg
h ttp://i43.tinypic.com/33ynxvr.jpg
h ttp://i43.tinypic.com/k4cnyo.jpg
h ttp://i44.tinypic.com/vfca6t.jpg

Coupon-mad

I see that you have posted on pepipoo now and are getting some expert help:

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=69826

You were parked here according to pepipoo, in an entrance.

Here are your pics except for the tax disc (not needed and not relevant as an appeal point, CEO's can say 'unclear'):


http://i40.tinypic.com/wa1qac.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/juepuw.jpg

http://i44.tinypic.com/wme2c7.jpg

http://i43.tinypic.com/33ynxvr.jpg

http://i43.tinypic.com/k4cnyo.jpg

http://i44.tinypic.com/vfca6t.jpg


I would follow the advice you get over there - looks like a tricky one and not an ideal place to park. You may well get off the PCN though as most people do in the end with that forum's help.

vax2002

The restrictions are variable and signs must be in place which refer to the restrictions, no signs = no restrictions.
However you may have to drag it all the way to adjudication, the council have 1 rubber stamp for appeals.

Mr:T_4

thanks guys.

@coupon-mad why can CEOs write 'unclear' sounds silly when you CAN actually see the disc and all the details on it

@vax2002 i have been advised on pepipoo to appeal saying that as i was not parked next to the DYLs the contravention did not occur.

Coupon-mad

Mr:T wrote: »

thanks guys.

@coupon-mad why can CEOs write 'unclear' sounds silly when you CAN actually see the disc and all the details on it

@vax2002 i have been advised on pepipoo to appeal saying that as i was not parked next to the DYLs the contravention did not occur.

They can write 'unclear' because it's not an inherently important part of the PCN that would matter either way - it's just there to show they were near enough to look, rather than watching the back of a car driving away!

CEOs can - and often do! - get the colour of the car wrong and that's irrelevent as well.

And good luck with your appeal - expect the long haul, adjudication, the lot. Forget the discounted penalty as you will be in an all-or-nothing situation come the next stage once they reject your first appeal (as most Councils do). Understand where you are with this - the first move of a game. Council made its first move with the PCN and this appeal is your first move.

It's nowhere near 'game over' yet for either side! As long as you know that and keep your pepipoo thread updated every time you get a letter about it - follow their advice and do not miss any appeal deadlines - then you will have a chance.

give_them_FA

Yes, most councils' appeal systems are only marginally fairer than those of private parking companies (which are virtually non-existent) but I have always found the independent adjudication service to be 101% fair and a very high proportion of appeals succeed.

rev_henry

Ah this is very interesting to me as a local cyclist. This might interest you:
http://www.facebook.com/ManchesterCycleLanes

I go up and down that stretch every day and people often park there when ATS is closed. I don't see the problem as long as you're not sticking out into the cycle/bus lane, just be VERY careful when backing out, yes there are still cyclists at that time of night.

Good to see the Council is dealing with the important issues and issuing dubious tickets rather than ticketing everyone double parked in the cycle lanes (of which I'm sure there were many at that time, there always are!).