Parking Ticket

MercilessKiller

I agree with you completely Alison. I think you had a perfectly acceptable reason as it isn't an "every day event" type thing where you will be abusing/breaking parking laws.

MarkyMark, you replied to one of my posts in a nasty way accusing me of fraud, and you are now also posting in a mean way to another person. Would it be so hard to post your comments in a nice manner rather than treating everyone like they're scum? Thank you.

Alison, I'm sure people who read this that are involved in the event will take warning and appreciate your post :P

Unfortunately, people can't argue with the law, but they can argue if the correct procedures are not taken. If you can see your car, and you can see a traffic warden approach, then you can get out the way in time generally!

Good luck for the future anyway.

Alison_B wrote:

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.

Natelle_2

Perhaps this page http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_localtrans/documents/page/dft_localtrans_507572.hcspmight help in clarifying the situation a little.
the relevant section is
'10. The London Local Authorities Act 2000 has enabled London authorities:
• to serve a parking PCN on the basis of information by a camera (section 4)
• to serve a PCN through the post where a parking attendant was prevented from placing a PCN on a vehicle or handing it to the driver (section 5); and
• placed a six-month time limit on service of the notice to owner from the date of issue of a PCN (section 7).
11. The issue of parking PCNs on the basis of camera evidence has been successfully piloted in London. The ability to serve a parking PCN by post is clearly advantageous in situations where illegally parked vehicles are driven away before a parking attendant can issue a PCN. It is also helpful in cases where a parking attendant may be threatened, which regrettably is not an uncommon occurrence. The Department therefore believes it would be helpful to give similar powers to authorities outside London exercising DPE powers if a legislative opportunity allowed, '
or has this muddied the water!

MercilessKiller

Hey. Good post.

Firstly that is for London only rather than the rest of the UK

Secondly, a photograph still has to be taken so you can still request the photograph before owning up to the offence I suppose lol

MercilessKiller

Just seen that it comes from the Road Traffic Act but taking sub delegation as statutory legislation so ignore my first point.

MarkyMarkD

I'm not aiming to be harsh or to create a slanging match - have you noticed me slanging?

This is the "vent board". If you come on here and post, you are expected to be moaning about something you think you've been hard done by on. And hence you should expect contrary views - it's a very dull board indeed if all it has is lots of "oh yes, isn't that awful" posts. It's debate which makes MSE worthwhile.

If you wanted to ask advice on parking ticket charges, the "vent board" is not the right place.

My comments on Merciless's post are from the same point of view - this is OT, but I have seen SO many posts on here from young drivers who are driving as named (NOT MAIN) drivers on insurance on their own cars, which has been taken out in parents' names, that it isn't unreasonable for me to suspect that another young driver who states they are driving "my car" was actually driving "their car". Post clearly and unambiguously and you won't get the wrong response, Merciless.

By the way, did you notice under my name: Thanked 121 Times in 110 Posts?

Alison, I don't have young children (yet) - I have a 6 months pregnant wife. And of course I understand why both parents waving the children off is a good thing for everyone involved - so you just need to get there in sufficient time to drop the kids off with the luggage and parent, and to park the car legally and walk back to the rest of the family.

MercilessKiller

I apologise for being excited that I'm driving a car that would be mine officially in 3 days. I'll make sure not to be again if that will make you happy

gravitytolls

Quite right Alison, children should be seen off by the family.

I hate to be a doom monger, but there have this summer, been several tragic accidents mentioned in the news, th eteenager killed by a jet ski, and more recently the 3 year old killed in the sand dunes.

How dreadful for your child to have an accident, and you hadn't been present to say farewell and kiss them goodbye.

You were perfectly civil Alison, no nasty comments about traffic wardens, though there are many who think insults would be richly deserved, and no criticism of the legal system.

I don't think you deserve to be booed, nor have your parenting questioned.

And frankly, I can't really see the problem with parking for 10 mins on a quiet day, if traffic/pedestrian difficulties aren't likely to occur because of it.

I know I've occasionally done it - 2 mins collecting prescription, dropping off at youth club in the rain. It's not as if the car had ben abandoned across someone's drive for 8 hours, or blocked access is it?

gravitytolls

Quite right Alison, children should be seen off by the family.

I hate to be a doom monger, but there have this summer, been several tragic accidents mentioned in the news, th eteenager killed by a jet ski, and more recently the 3 year old killed in the sand dunes.

How dreadful for your child to have an accident, and you hadn't been present to say farewell and kiss them goodbye.

You were perfectly civil Alison, no nasty comments about traffic wardens, though there are many who think insults would be richly deserved, and no criticism of the legal system.

I don't think you deserve to be booed, nor have your parenting questioned.

And frankly, I can't really see the problem with parking for 10 mins on a quiet day, if traffic/pedestrian difficulties aren't likely to occur because of it.

I know I've occasionally done it - 2 mins collecting prescription, dropping off at youth club in the rain. It's not as if the car had ben abandoned across someone's drive for 8 hours, or blocked access is it?

IvanOpinion

The bottom line is that if you have done something wrong then you have to expect to pay the consequences .. whether it be speeding, parking at a junction or parking on double yellow lines. There used to be postings on this board about people trying to get off speeding or parking tickets and basically the only way is to be a liar ... there are NO excuses it is a case of pay the fine and smile through gritted teeth.

In particular double parking especially where there are children about is dangerous no matter what time of the day it is. What would have happened if a child had run out between two illegally parked cars ... I know it can happen anywhere, but would your excuses of saying goodbye to your child have made you feel better.

There are reasons for road markings and the highway code. We may not always agree with them but your advice is sound ... don't double park ... there is NO excuse. As others have said it does appear to be an issue about the pick-up point ... surely it could be arranged better in a nearby supermarket car park etc.

Ivan

Alison_B

I totally agree that had a child been hurt it would have been terrible. I am not making any excuses and we will take the fine as we parked illegally but we weren't actually on the main part of the road, we were in a turning circle for the coaches (they had all turned around and were facing the exit route).

I came on here as yes, I was very angry and was venting my frustrations, I did think it was unfair as the traffic wardens suddenly appeared from nowhere, looked like they took details of some cars and then turned around and went back the same way that they had come - without going further up the street and dealing with other parked cars. It was as though they expected people to be parked there and were just filling up a quota. Had they been doing their job properly, they would have patrolled the whole of the area, not just rich pickings in one spot.

MarkyMarkD, hope to see you on these boards in 5 or 6 years time, when your child is going on school trips. We will see if you actually manage to get to your destination and have adequate time to find somewhere quite a distance away from the drop off area, park up and manage to arrive on time. Kids always run late.