Parking Ticket

Alison_B

We have just got back from dropping the children off for their YHA adventure week. The pick up point for the coach was in Manchester and when we got there, there was no place to park. As it was down a side street on a quiet Sunday morning, we, along with loads of others, parked on the double yellow lines. Was waving to the kids on the coach, when suddenly out of nowhere came 2 traffic wardens. They had a field day.

Everybody suddenly scattered and ran to their cars but I am sure that they were typing things into their machine. Don't they issue tickets anymore? Does anybody know how much it is for a ticket?

Rich pickings for them, they must know that during the summer months on a Sunday morning at 10 am, parents are dropping the kids off for summer camp and as there isn't adequate parking, they can get most of their quota for the day.

So a warning to anybody who might be going to the YHA in Manchester for the Do it 4 Real adventures.

Bossyboots

It has been mentioned on these boards a few times that they have to actually stick the ticket on the windscreen for it to be valid.

In our area, the wardens have to photograph the car, where it is parked and also with the ticket on the screen so I presume the above is true. It is then impossible to dispute that the ticket was received and that the vehicle was parked in the wrong place.

Norma_Desmond

Double yellow lines are always there for a reason; was it a residential street? Think of the nuisance to householders trying to enjoy a quiet Sunday morning - and have a look at the 'Parking on Pavements' thread on this board for the antics of inconsiderate motorists! Sorry to seem pedantic, but it's like speeding offences - it's illegal so don't do it!

Milky_Mocha

Do they really have to stick a ticket on the windscreen? I recently had a parking notice through my letterbox and had no ticket on my windscreen. The letter however stated that they had photographic evidence available on request.

I always say that every parking ticket should be disputed even if you know or feel in your heart that you were in the wrong. I do that everytime and have ALWAYS had the fine waived either due to me finding a loophole or due to them waiving as a 'goodwill' gesture.

Just state your points, be very polite and if necessary beg for forgiveness. It works for me everytime. I've been ticketed at least 5 times and in each case the fine has been waived.

ACID

Alison_B wrote:

We have just got back from dropping the children off for their YHA adventure week. The pick up point for the coach was in Manchester and when we got there, there was no place to park. As it was down a side street on a quiet Sunday morning, we, along with loads of others, parked on the double yellow lines. Was waving to the kids on the coach, when suddenly out of nowhere came 2 traffic wardens. They had a field day.

Everybody suddenly scattered and ran to their cars but I am sure that they were typing things into their machine. Don't they issue tickets anymore? Does anybody know how much it is for a ticket?

Rich pickings for them, they must know that during the summer months on a Sunday morning at 10 am, parents are dropping the kids off for summer camp and as there isn't adequate parking, they can get most of their quota for the day.

So a warning to anybody who might be going to the YHA in Manchester for the Do it 4 Real adventures.

have you read the highway code in regrds to parking on double yellow lines

time for a refresh i think........

scheming_gypsy

Milky_Mocha wrote:

Do they really have to stick a ticket on the windscreen?

don't think so as it's impossible to prove.

TW : it was on there

Driver : no it wasn't

TW : you pulled it off

Driver : no i didn't

TW : yes you did

Driver : prove it

TW : i can't

Driver : ha ha ha

MercilessKiller

They MUST stick the ticket on the window by law.

If you see the warden going towards the car and u jump in and drive off, then you will not be fined. It is up to the traffic warden to then photograph the ticket on the window. If this is not done, the burden of proof is on the traffic warden and you will not be fine.

I know this from workin at maplin electronics. We had a private car park, with a traffic warden protecting it as ewll as others. He, by law, had to photograph every car he gave a ticket to with it on the window. He would not give it to anybody who was sitting in the car in the driving seat with the engine off, as they could drive away before placing the ticket on the windscreen.

If you get a ticket, then say it wasn't there. If they produce no photograph then you will not pay a fine. If they do, then you pay it or blame someone else for taking it off

MarkyMarkD

It was a quiet Sunday morning and there was nowhere to park?

I don't think so, somehow. You committed the offence. If you get a ticket, you deserve it.

Dropping off people, or their luggage, is allowed on normal double yellow lines because that's loading/unloading, not waiting. Wandering along to the bus pick-up point and saying your fond farewells is not loading/unloading - it's waiting and it's not allowed on double yellow lines.

You say "WE" have just got back. Did it require two people to wave at the children? Why didn't the driver go and park somewhere LEGAL after dropping off the passengers and the other adult?

It all boils down to being too lazy to comply with the law, IMHO.

Alison_B

Firstly can I say, I think you are all being very harsh. I didn't come on here screaming and shouting that we might have been booked - I asked a couple of civil questions: don't you have to receive a ticket and what is the cost for being booked. I also posted as a warning to other MSE members who might be attending the Manchester YHA.

Secondly, it wasn't a residential area but a retail park/industrial area with nothing else around it except for some offices which were closed.

MarkyMarkD - don't you have young children? This was their first trip away from home and obviously wanted both parents to wave them off. There was no other parking within a reasonable distance to the centre otherwise we would have parked there. If we have been booked, fair enough. We will take the penalty but haven't you ever done anything slightly illegal before? I don't want to get into a slanging match with anyone, I was just posting as a warning to other members but maybe next time, I will let anyone else get caught out just like we were. Like I said earlier, I was asking questions and posted to warn others.

Bossyboots

I agree with you Alison that the comments on here are harsh. It is only natural that you would both want to see the children off, particularly if it is their first trip away. I also think the parking attendants could have given some leeway. However, it may be that the YHA activities cause havoc in that area by people parking and that they are trying to enforce it for the sake of residents. I imagine you don't know how difficult the locals lives are made by people parking there and it may be entirely justified for them to be lurking on a Sunday morning.

I am not condoning parking on the double yellow lines, but I do understand entirely the reasons why you did and why you thought on this occasion it was acceptable. You clearly were not the only ones who thought so, so it wasn't a case of you thinking you were an exceptional case deserving of breaking the rules which wouldn't have got my support.

Would it be worth speaking to the YHA and mentioning the difficulty. This surely is not the only time this has happened and maybe they ought to look at making pick up somewhere more appropriate for parents and children to stop and park. Unless those caught up in this make the YHA aware of it, they will not know that there is a problem.

What is going to happen when you need to pick the children up? We always both liked to be there for that as well.

Nile

Thank you Alison_B for sharing your experience with us. Your warning may prove useful to others.

You could've kept quiet and suffered in silence. Of course there will always be people who will grin and feel smug at the predicament of others:rolleyes: . Then there are people who will finger wag when you've already learned where you've gone wrong.

I feel the same way as you and have posted warnings following my errors (one was a London Congestion Charge fine) in the hope that it will help others from making the same mistake and so........ save them some money.;)

I hope that the minority of negative postings don't influence you into changing your views..........please continue to post your helpful tips. We are (or should be) a community to help one another.