Fixed Penalty Notice

Gilly745

Basically I was issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice from the Police three weeks ago for the the offence (018) 'Waiting In Length (Or lenght as it's spelt on the ticket) Of Road Where Prohibited'

The facts are:

1 - I parked on the road outside of someone's house that had no yellow lines and no signs prohibiting parking on that particular section of the road in order to use a train station that is situated on that road.

2 - Other sections of that particular road had yellow lines (some single, some double) with accompanying signs stating 'No Parking Monday-Saturday 8am-6pm'.

3 - The junction in which I entered that particular road from had no signs at all at the junction.

4 - The junction to enter the street before the road I was penalised on did have signs stating 'No vehicles except for permit holders and for access to off street premises'.

5 - There is another junction that leads into the street (I did not use this one) that also has signs stating 'No vehicles except for permit holders and for access to off street premises'.

The only action I have taken so far is write an informal letter to the relevant Police force explaining that as far I am aware, I was within my rights to park in that space. I received a response a few days later saying that the department does not operate a correspondence policy and reaffirming that my only options are to pay the fixed penalty or request a court hearing to contest its issue.

I am looking for a bit of advice as to whether I have a strong enough case to take this to court and how severe the penalty may become should I be unsuccesful in contesting the issue in court.

Any help or advice would be much appreciated. I can provide any further information including pictures if needed.

Thank you

muckybutt

I would advise that if you want a day in magistrates court then start a new thread on pepipoo in the Speeding and Criminal offences section http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showforum=5

If you dont want the hassle and potential of loosing and having to pay costs etc then put it down to experience - pay up and dont park anywhere near there again.

Out of interest though can you post links as to where you were parked via google maps.

Coupon-mad

It's already on pepipoo in 2 places:

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=69793

Not many other responses on either thread because it's all been said. Get some evidence together (Traffic Order, and pics of the lack of signs) if you want to defend it at Maggy's Court. Good luck!

Have to say that Police Fixed Penalties for parking 'offences' are the one time when pepipoo more often than not say that people should maybe just pay up. It's a criminal allegation and would take a lot of info and hard work - and balls of steel! - to try to beat in Court.

Really annoying when I can totally see where you are coming from with this one, Gilly.

Gilly745

Thanks for the replies; I'm having trouble posting links here but all pictures are posted on the thread mentioned above.

From what I've read on both forums, I don't think anyone has recommended fighting it. Although most think I'm probably in the right, it seems that taking on the police in the magistrates is a tough ask. It's a shame really but I only wanted to go down that route if somebody on the forums could convince me that it wouldn't end in a much heftier punishment.

give_them_FA

If it helps you, I did do that back when my area was still under the police tickets. I refused to pay it, it went to maggies court and the CPS promptly dropped it. Even got paid some costs! If you are certain it is wrong, it's up to you, but the CPS don't like pursuing losing cases.