Vcs Doncaster airport parking charge notice

Thelooneytuner

Thanks guys, I'm more angry than worried and just feel sorry for the people that have payed instantaneously. They are very believable and use good jargon to sound all legal and high and mighty.

I am just unfamiliar with the laws regarding pulling into a bus stop to move the car mat and prevent an accident. Surely the real law makers would agree with me on this?

Stephen_Leak

If this had happened on the public highway, where stopping on a bus stop would normally be an offence, it might be covered by "Duress of Circumstances".

According to Wilkinson's Road Traffic Offences, 21st edition, this is "where a defendant had committed an otherwise unlawful act to avoid imminent peril of danger to life or serious injury to himself or some other person for whom he was responsible. The evil must be directed towards the defendant or some other person for whom he had responsibility and could be identified by reference to the action threatened. The evil to be prevented must be greater than the evil done... which should be no more than reasonably necessary to avoid the harm feared".

Thelooneytuner

This is where I thought they could get me by citing that pulling into a bus stop is illegal. Headache!

Stephen_Leak

Thelooneytuner wrote: »

This is where I thought they could get me by citing that pulling into a bus stop is illegal. Headache!

But only on the public highway. This is almost certainly a private road. If so, then the bus stop is, legally, nothing more than some paint on the road. It does not have the "force of law" (except in the greed-crazed mind of a PPC, of course).

Thelooneytuner

So I take it that it's equivilant of me painting a bus stop on our driveway and trying to fine someone who parks there? I wouldn't have a legally have a right?

ManxRed

Pretty much, yes.

Stephen_Leak

You're beginning to think like a PPC.

However, and especially with disabled parking bays, it's a good idea to treat them as if they were "real".

Thelooneytuner

Well in this case I shall fight it.

I wouldn't normally pull over into a bus stop but on this occasion I couldn't see an option or safer alternative.

Would love to write back but I think it would annoy them more ignoring it

Stephen_Leak

I understand the need to do something. Dealing with a problem by ignoring it is very counter-intuitive.

You could always write to the airport. On the one hand, airports aren't like other major car park owners, like supermarkets and retail parks, as they have a different and captive market. You don't usually use them every week and can't really threaten to use another airport in future.

On the other hand, they might be having a good day and order VCS to back off.

PS. "Duress of Circumstance" may not be as good a defence in this case. Further reading shows it works best in situations where you have to make a split-second decision to avoid a clear and present danger.

Thelooneytuner

Surely I can use duress as a defence as the reason for pulling in was the lack of movement in my pedals caused by the mat getting stuck. I feel I had to pull in, especially with th upcoming roundabout?

Anyone know where I can get some solid advice? I don't want to be stuck with large fees I it does go to court?
Like I said I'm very uninformed on this matter as I am only 21 and never experienced anything like this

Thanks