Parking stories in the News/media

Coupon-mad

Have we seen this one?

https://www.contestorlegal.co.uk/blog-3/uk-parking-control-limiteds-oversight-in-adhering-to-the-28-day-statutory-period-as-outlined-under-pofa-resulted-in-a-295-costs-for-unreasonable-conduct

That's quite a clever argument. Claiming keeper liability a day early.

Coupon-mad

Here's a new jolly wheeze you can bet ANPR operators will be all over like a rash, given the generally useless 5 minute consideration period that exists under the new Code of Practice:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12708991/Car-parks-tariffs-councils-vehicles-emissions.html

The car parks with 198 different tariffs. It's the latest war on motorists - councils who charge drivers according to their vehicle's emissions.

Example of the tariff list:

How easy would it be for PPC World to:

- pretend they are doing this for green reasons;

- charge all drivers of all foreign registered vehicles top whack fees to park even an electric car (because they aren't DVLA registered and PPCs can't rinse them dry);

- make tariffs so darn complicated that UK-car drivers are set up for a fall because they will select the wrong band and of course get a PCN for being 50p short;

- make it all take so long that loads more PCNs are inevitably going to be issued to paying patrons for "taking too long to pay", WHICH IS WHY THE DVLA MUST ASK FOR A LOCATION IDENTIFIER TO FLUSH OUT CASH COW SITES.

Le_Kirk

Who drives around knowing the band of their car?  Presumably the PPC or council are finding out the band by asking the DVLA for it - or is it automatic!  Now this would be a good use of ANPR; upon entering the car park the VRM is read and the PDT exhibits the band of the car and the motorist is able to select the correct tariff.  Maybe that is too simplistic on my part!  Of course they make no money if everybody pays the correct tariff. Perhaps we all need to drive round with crit'air stickers in the windscreen like I have to when I go to France and drive through certain large cities.

Fruitcake

Le_Kirk said:

Who drives around knowing the band of their car?  Presumably the PPC or council are finding out the band by asking the DVLA for it - or is it automatic!  Now this would be a good use of ANPR; upon entering the car park the VRM is read and the PDT exhibits the band of the car and the motorist is able to select the correct tariff.  Maybe that is too simplistic on my part!  Of course they make no money if everybody pays the correct tariff. Perhaps we all need to drive round with crit'air stickers in the windscreen like I have to when I go to France and drive through certain large cities.

According to the Gov.uk "Driving in a clean air zone" website, my car is compliant and charge free to enter all zones because it has a Euro 6 petrol engine.
It does not. It has a diesel engine. When I contacted the relevant local gov website they said take it up with the DVLA.
The DVLA correctly states my car has a diesel engine. The two systems obviously don't talk to each other, presumably because it is far too complicated and difficult and expensive and unfair to pass the cost on to the general motoring public for a programmer to write a few lines of computer code, and not because it is incompetency on the part of government. Oh, wait a minute.

I could probably get away with it, but I won't take the risk of getting a worse penalty for driving a non-compliant diesel car in a clean air zone. My solution is not to visit clean air zones and instead spend my money elsewhere. ULEZ has driven me out of Bristol as a direct result of this. 

For many people, the opposite situation is true. Their vehicles are compliant but the government system says it isn't.

Now imagine the chaos and scammage if PPCs get involved in PCNs for allegedly incorrect emissions payments. 

patient_dream

And the BPA THREATENED GOVERNMENT THAT HIGH STREETS WILL VANISH ??? 

And now it's their own council members who are banging the nail in the coffin

Is there a BIG sign at the BPA's HQ in Haywards Heath saying  ...
MONEY SCAMMERS WELCOME HERE ?

UncleThomasCobley

Far too simple a tariff scheme. It should also be cross referenced tyre type, radial or cross ply, colour of the car (how much solar energy it absorbs or reflects), how many seats, boot space and gender of the driver. 

It just goes to show how absurdly, intellectually malnourished the people who think up these schemes are.

Fruitcake

UncleThomasCobley said:

Far too simple a tariff scheme. It should also be cross referenced tyre type, radial or cross ply, colour of the car (how much solar energy it absorbs or reflects), how many seats, boot space and gender of the driver. 

It just goes to show how absurdly, intellectually malnourished the people who think up these schemes are.

You missed out the most important element, at least according to the tabloids; the age of the motorist! 

(... and possibly the value of their house)

Coupon-mad

Watford Asda has confirmed drivers were wrongly given parking tickets at its car park after introducing a new system:

https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/23898790.watford-asda-car-park-fines-wrongly-given-drivers/

Any apology from ParkingEye forthcoming? Not in that article. Looks like they are still waiting.

BPA, this is what your members are doing to customers, retailers and high streets.
You must be so proud.

Familiar line that, innit: "we introduced restrictions due to complaints".
How come we see that same line trotted out ALL THE TIME?

IMHO, a cynic might conclude that in SOME such cases these 'complaints' could be something and nothing. Imaginary, even?

Asda are just showing a knee-jerk reaction.

Not only that, this sledgehammer has just had the effect of alienating Asda customers and has not even cracked the nut they say it was for (see the comments).

Coupon-mad

Ho hum, what did I just say?
https://www.kidderminstershuttle.co.uk/news/23898986.mcdonalds-diner-fined-blackpole-retail-park-car-park/
Several people have been subjected to fines since the new 30-minute restrictions were in place.

One car meet-up group was fined eight times after ordering food from McDonalds. 

"A spokesperson from Legal and General Investment Management said restrictions were placed at the car park due to complaints from people living nearby."

Really. That actually happened, did it?

Who are these "people"?

Why are they more important than customers complaining about unfair parking charges?

How do you think introducing ex-clampers with an ANPR camera system addresses the issue?

UKPC reportedly haven't replied to the newspaper yet they apparently 'fined' this person for being 30 seconds over time. Whatever happened to the mandatory 10 minute grace period?

BPA - do you care about any of this or were you too busy doing your two replies to the DLUHC?

Umkomaas

Coupon-mad said:

Watford Asda has confirmed drivers were wrongly given parking tickets at its car park after introducing a new system:

https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/23898790.watford-asda-car-park-fines-wrongly-given-drivers/

Any apology from ParkingEye forthcoming? Not in that article. Looks like they are still waiting.

BPA, this is what your members are doing to customers, retailers and high streets.
You must be so proud.

Familiar line that, innit: "we introduced restrictions due to complaints".
How come we see that same line trotted out ALL THE TIME?

IMHO, a cynic might conclude that in SOME such cases these 'complaints' could be something and nothing. Imaginary, even?

Asda are just showing a knee-jerk reaction.

Not only that, this sledgehammer has just had the effect of alienating Asda customers and has not even cracked the nut they say it was for (see the comments).

The boy racers have quickly got this sussed!

It has had zero effect on the youngsters enjoying a social gathering in the rear car park - they have already discovered if you stop by the zebra crossing and cover your number plates then you don't get fined.