Undercover police issue fine for 4 cars parked up talking

marcia_

juehankie said:

chrisw said:

It's a Public Space Protection Order to stop car meets. It carries a £100 Fixed Penalty Notice enforceable by the magistrates courts.

It would appear to be a bit heavy handed to fine them in the circumstances you describe, but it's technically correct and they may have been making more noise than they thought or admit to.

It was a petrol station forecourt. Around the back. No noise to affect anyone. Not a house within a mile 

 Irrelevant, they were meeting in their cars which breaks the Law 

LightFlare

I would guess there is a lot more to the story than the son is letting on.

6 young lads, parked up making no noise/nuisance doesn’t ring true

James_Poisson

"Under cover police" are not sent to do surveillance at great cost for no reason.

I would imagine there was a very valid reason they were there, and the garage owners, (what ever the lads parent might think about their sons exemplary behaviour) probably have had enough of things going on behind their forecourt that might be frightening their customers.

Of course refusing to pay and going to court will no doubt expose the full reasoning behind the episode.

juehankie

Baldytyke88 said:

juehankie said:

Baldytyke88 said:

Participating in or organizing car cruising events, which involve two or more vehicles gathering for social or recreational purposes, can lead to a £100 Fixed Penalty Notice or a £1,000 fine if convicted in court.

I am old, so I don't have 6 mates, but a meeting of 6 mates with their cars does sound suspicious. Your Son can refuse to pay the £100 and go to court.

How are they to know about this rule? 

If they are innocent, just let the matter go to court and they can tell the court why 6 guys in cars met at a petrol station. No houses nearby, so why did they meet up?

Mates chatting about their cars. 20/21 years old. Recently passed. Had their cars. Meeting up .. it's such a shame because all his life growing up my son was bullied so stopped going out. After getting so low he contemplated suicide at high school.. then he gets some mates.. and this happens. Not even been going out 4 months.. it's really knocked his confidence again. 

juehankie

Hoenir said:

The fact that there were undercover police monitoring this location suggests there's been problems in the past. Possibly the garage owners themselves have reported the nuisance. Large groups of young men can be intimidating to deal with when challenged. Such is youth culture these days. 

The police were there arresting someone about an incident in the petrol station. Just seen them there and got out of the car and said " you're all getting a £100 fine". They were sat on their bonnets or leaning up against cars as it was hot. Some on the grass.. 

James_Poisson

So have they all received a fine? 

juehankie

James_Poisson said:

So have they all received a fine? 

Actually.. at moment none of them have received anything through the post. The officer stated it would come off the council

Umkomaas

juehankie said:

James_Poisson said:

So have they all received a fine? 

Actually.. at moment none of them have received anything through the post. The officer stated it would come off the council

The police passing information to the council?  Doesn't sound likely. 

juehankie

Umkomaas said:

juehankie said:

James_Poisson said:

So have they all received a fine? 

Actually.. at moment none of them have received anything through the post. The officer stated it would come off the council

The police passing information to the council?  Doesn't sound likely. 

This is exactly what HAS happened.

Letter comes through today. 

Umkomaas

juehankie said:

Umkomaas said:

juehankie said:

James_Poisson said:

So have they all received a fine? 

Actually.. at moment none of them have received anything through the post. The officer stated it would come off the council

The police passing information to the council?  Doesn't sound likely. 

This is exactly what HAS happened.

Letter comes through today. 

Hmm. Can we see a redacted copy of the letter please?