Not a railway car park...but similar-ish issues...

Computersaysno

So a private company issues 'charges' under byelaws if you fail to pay a toll at the Tyne Tunnels...a UTCN......and seek to recover these as a civil debt [the underlying regulations allow them to convert the 'toll and costs' to a contract debt] via debt chasers and small claims......The 'local authority' that they act as concessionaires for can take prosecutions for 'breach of byelaws'. [As an aside to be able to reclaim the charge they claim it is a 'cost of enforcement']. 

The limited company is offering the following....

Alternative to prosecution

 We may offer you a warning (on condition of payment of the unpaid toll notice charges) as an alternative to prosecution.

If a warning is offered, this will be confirmed in writing and the person can avoid prosecution by complying with one of the following conditions:

a) Pay the unpaid toll charges in full, OR

a) Set up a payment scheme and pay agreed minimum amounts within the time periods specified.

If a warning is offered and the conditions are not met then we will continue with our investigation, which could lead to you being prosecuted.


So they are offering not to criminally prosecute you if you pay them money [relating to a civil debt??]....

Now that sounds a bit dodgy to me....blackmail? demanding monies with menaces, attempt to pervert coj, etc...


I'm 99% certain one of the private parking companies got into trouble for offering the same when they were running railway car parks ie pay the PCN or we fine you under byelaws...This isn't quite identical...but its close..

Welcome people thoughts ....happy to supply more details if needs be...

They are not on a standard PPC KADOE contract and there is no code of conduct they have to follow....no mention of signage etc.

They are in essence acting on behalf of a local authority [but were using a loophole to dent that], but they are not subject to the DFT 'Parking Enforcement Rules' either!!

KeithP

Computersaysno said:

So a private company issues 'charges' under byelaws if you fail to pay a toll at the Tyne Tunnels...

So nothing to do with parking then. 

Coupon-mad

Hmmm...you could try writing to the Monitoring Officer at the Local Authority and raise your concerns, which might include that the Authority's Agent is using cameras for moving traffic enforcement but without any CCTV or ANPR surveillance camera 'type approval' from the Secretary of State.

That might stick. Worth the mud-slinging. I think Newcastle Council got into trouble for not having camera 'type approval' at some point, though this was only something I heard verbally from a contact.

It might hit home...