Local Authority PCN for parking in a free car park

0james0

Before I simply cave and pay the £25 (it is at a reduced rate until 14th August) I thought I should just check if I have any chance of having it over turned on appeal. 

I parked in a council car park, which has always been a free car park, however unknown to me, you are required to get a free ticket from the machine to display in your window. 

I did not realise the requirement to obtain a free ticket and I was given a PCN. They have shown me evidence of a sign that is at the entrance to the car park (which in fairness, would be hard to read while turning into the car park, as you would be required to stop on a single lane carriage way to read it, before actually making the turn into the car park) but it seems this one is my fault. 

I just feel a bit !!!!!! to have to pay a penalty fine, for parking in a free car park. I could understand if I did not pay and display, but this is simply free and display, I've not even seen anything like this before! 

I have tried to evidence to them that I was only in the car park while I popped in for a haircut, so I have managed to give them evidence of when I arrived and when I left, but they have turned down my appeal. 

Anything I can do, or do I just suck it up and take it on the chin for being an idiot and not realising?

jon81uk

I expect there would have been more signage and a ticketing machine somewhere?

How did you know it was free without reading signs?

Its quite common to only be free for one or two hours and you need to get a ticket to prove that, as otherwise people park there all day when at work.

Umkomaas

As we major on private parking tickets here, PePiPoo will be your best bet for council tickets. Register there but please note that a Hotmail address won't work - try using a throwaway Gmail account instead if you do have trouble registering, and post a new thread; here's your link:

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?act=SF&s=&f=30

Have a read through some of the other threads there before you post your own, to get the hang of what information they need from you in your opening post - but as a minimum you will need to post redacted photos/scans of all correspondence you've received from the council (both sides, if appropriate), as they need to see all the small print.

Coupon-mad

0james0 said:

Before I simply cave and pay the £25 (it is at a reduced rate until 14th August) I thought I should just check if I have any chance of having it over turned on appeal. 

I parked in a council car park, which has always been a free car park, however unknown to me, you are required to get a free ticket from the machine to display in your window. 

I did not realise the requirement to obtain a free ticket and I was given a PCN. They have shown me evidence of a sign that is at the entrance to the car park (which in fairness, would be hard to read while turning into the car park, as you would be required to stop on a single lane carriage way to read it, before actually making the turn into the car park) but it seems this one is my fault. 

I just feel a bit !!!!!! to have to pay a penalty fine, for parking in a free car park. I could understand if I did not pay and display, but this is simply free and display, I've not even seen anything like this before! 

I have tried to evidence to them that I was only in the car park while I popped in for a haircut, so I have managed to give them evidence of when I arrived and when I left, but they have turned down my appeal. 

Anything I can do, or do I just suck it up and take it on the chin for being an idiot and not realising?

It all depends if there is a breach of a Parking Places Order. With LA penalties it's not about breaching signs/lines, and is ONLY recoverable if you are in breach of the PPO.

In other words, does the published PPO on the council website set out that penalties may be issued for failure to obtain/display a ticket to claim free parking?

It sounds odd. What's the contravention code?