Forgot to Display Disabled Badge

Paul_Varjak

I parked on the highway in a disabled bay but forgot to display my Blue Badge. I received no PCN on the windscreen but did receive a Notice to Owner about 1 month later.

I immediately wrote to the Council but my representations have been rejected because a badge was not displayed. I do hold a valid Blue Badge and I was the only user of the vehicle at the time.

Any point in appealing?

peter_the_piper

Best thing to do is ask on pepipoo.com and see what their answer is. There is usually a way of fighting these and pp are specialists.

Coupon-mad

Paul_Varjak wrote: »

I parked on the highway in a disabled bay but forgot to display my Blue Badge. I received no PCN on the windscreen but did receive a Notice to Owner about 1 month later.

I immediately wrote to the Council but my representations have been rejected because a badge was not displayed. I do hold a valid Blue Badge and I was the only user of the vehicle at the time.

Any point in appealing?

More like 'any point not appealing' if they haven't offered the discount again (which they don't have to at this stage). And anyway, most people win at adjudication and the amount stays the same (you are 'playing' for the non-discounted penalty or nothing).

But put it on pepipoo with a copy of the NTO, all pages, every bity of small print except the PCN number, car reg and your name/address of course:

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

In the meantime, have a look on the Council website to see if their Traffic Orders are linked there (the documents that define the restrictions for particular roads). It's worth checking whether that bay sign matches what the Order says and whether the Order is clear on the requirement to display the Blue Badge (probably, but worth checking for free). If no Order linked on the website, just email for it immediately (not under the FOI Act, no need to mention the PCN, just a normal email request).


HTH

Half_way

Council car park, council ticket?
if so follow the advice above, with council tickets it usualy takes a few atempts before your appeal is acepted, the first appeal ( and sometimes the second) is almost always turned down.

Paul_Varjak

Yes, they want £70 and it seems that £70 would still be the fine, even after appeal.

Their reply also indicates that only in rare cases are costs awarded so appealing is a no-breainer really.

Do you suggest I opt for an appeal in person, by post or by phone?

Paul_Varjak

Half_way wrote: »

Council car park, council ticket?

As indicated, I was parked on the highway, so the issuing authority was the Council.

Half_way wrote: »

if so follow the advice above, with council tickets it usualy takes a few atempts before your appeal is acepted, the first appeal ( and sometimes the second) is almost always turned down.

And will appealing more than once, add to the fine/costs?

Coupon-mad

Appeal in person to the adjudicator - but ONLY after takling pepipoo advice. Almost everyone wins with that forum's help and it's a no brainer for you.

No the penalty doesn't go up now as long as you do not 'do nothing'. Carry on - it's 'all or nothing' for a stake of £70 that you don't even have to put up front!

Paul_Varjak

I have had a look at the photos the Council sent me. The bays are clearly marked with road markings, saying 'disabled' but I can see no other signs on poles.

Is it a requirement that bays are marked with signs on poles in order to be enforceable?

Yes, I have posted on pepipoo, thanks for that!

Paul_Varjak

Coupon-mad wrote: »

More like 'any point not appealing' if they haven't offered the discount again (which they don't have to at this stage). And anyway, most people win at adjudication and the amount stays the same (you are 'playing' for the non-discounted penalty or nothing).

But put it on pepipoo with a copy of the NTO, all pages, every bity of small print except the PCN number, car reg and your name/address of course:

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

In the meantime, have a look on the Council website to see if their Traffic Orders are linked there (the documents that define the restrictions for particular roads). It's worth checking whether that bay sign matches what the Order says and whether the Order is clear on the requirement to display the Blue Badge (probably, but worth checking for free). If no Order linked on the website, just email for it immediately (not under the FOI Act, no need to mention the PCN, just a normal email request).


HTH

Some excellent advice there! Thank you!

Living in a village I don't usually have these problems (I rarely go and park in the town) and, of course, I usually remember to use my badge when I do.

I do recall back in 1995, challenging a parking ticket in Hull - there were no yellow lines on the road and no pavement markings indicating no loading. I did not use the disabled badge as there was no apparent reason to.

The Council would not accept that there were no road markings (despite photographic evidence) but then painted them within a week anyway!

I got a copy of the Traffic Order and found problems with that - again the Council would not accept there was a problem. I then received a call from a Police Inspector at the Traffic Wardens office and he said I was correct and they would have to issue refunds dating back several years to the people who had parked there.