How much time is allowed to buy a parking ticket?
Discussion
A friend of mine has just returned to her car after visiting the parking ticket machine to find a PCN slapped on it. It's from Leeds council by the way, so not an 'invoice'.
Parked up, no change, went to get some, got ticket from machine, arrived back at car.
The question is, what is a reasonable time between parking the car and getting a PCN for failure to display?
My guess would be maybe 10 minutes, but wondered if there was a definitive answer?
cheers chaps
B35
Parked up, no change, went to get some, got ticket from machine, arrived back at car.
The question is, what is a reasonable time between parking the car and getting a PCN for failure to display?
My guess would be maybe 10 minutes, but wondered if there was a definitive answer?
cheers chaps
B35
I was thinking about the instances where you walk to the machine, stand in a queue of 5 people, all of which have to try entering their registration numbers before putting their money in etc.
Takes more than 2 minutes, but clearly not 1 hour. So, somewhere between 1 second and 1 hour must be a recognised time limit.
Takes more than 2 minutes, but clearly not 1 hour. So, somewhere between 1 second and 1 hour must be a recognised time limit.
May want to see the exact minute the parking fine was given compared to the exact time she bought the ticket.
I think 5 minutes is reasonable time. In my town centre I can park my car, get to the bank, pay in some cash and get back my to car in around 10 minutes having picked up a sausage roll or 3 from Greggs on the way back.
I think 5 minutes is reasonable time. In my town centre I can park my car, get to the bank, pay in some cash and get back my to car in around 10 minutes having picked up a sausage roll or 3 from Greggs on the way back.
When I was a parking warden, I would observe for 5 minutes (personal preference), then entered the car details into my handheld terminal. The terminal had a pre-programmed 5 minutes observation period in which the terminal wouldn't let me print a ticket. Once the 5 minutes had elapsed, the ticket would print and away you go. I've lost count of the amount of times a motorist came running back saying, "I was only 2 minutes!" The machine couldn't lie as it couldn't be tampered with. They were told to challenge the ticket which was inevitably refused as the terminal times couldn't be argued with 
The Highway Man said:
When I was a parking warden, I would observe for 5 minutes (personal preference), then entered the car details into my handheld terminal. The terminal had a pre-programmed 5 minutes observation period in which the terminal wouldn't let me print a ticket. Once the 5 minutes had elapsed, the ticket would print and away you go. I've lost count of the amount of times a motorist came running back saying, "I was only 2 minutes!" The machine couldn't lie as it couldn't be tampered with. They were told to challenge the ticket which was inevitably refused as the terminal times couldn't be argued with
Parking Warden to HATO?There was a case on this point some thirty years ago when parking was a criminal offence. Although the case involved the meaning of the particular Order the comments suggest that there is no time limit as such. You would not be liable during the time it takes to get to the machine, purchase the ticket, return to your vehicle and display the ticket. This does not include leaving the vehicle to get some change for the machine.
14-7 said:
The Highway Man said:
When I was a parking warden, I would observe for 5 minutes (personal preference), then entered the car details into my handheld terminal. The terminal had a pre-programmed 5 minutes observation period in which the terminal wouldn't let me print a ticket. Once the 5 minutes had elapsed, the ticket would print and away you go. I've lost count of the amount of times a motorist came running back saying, "I was only 2 minutes!" The machine couldn't lie as it couldn't be tampered with. They were told to challenge the ticket which was inevitably refused as the terminal times couldn't be argued with
Parking Warden to HATO?bryan35 said:
A
Parked up, no change, went to get some, got ticket from machine, arrived back at car.
What do you mean by "went to get some"?Parked up, no change, went to get some, got ticket from machine, arrived back at car.
Are you saying they parked, went to a shop, bought something, got change, came back? Or something else. If all they did was go to the machine then clearly they shouldn't get a ticket, but if they went somewhere else first they will get one.
Years ago I parked up in swimming pool carpark and realised I had no change. The warden was there so I asked if I could get some change from the swimming pool and he was fine. I walked with my toddler son and got the change (took some time as they had a disabled swimming session to sort) and then walked to machine and purchased ticket.
Got to car and realised he had given me a ticket. In the comments box he had written "gave her 10 mins". He had not set a time and I was 12 mins based on ticket times.
I wrote to council and stated that if he had said 10 mins, I would have picked up my son and carried him instead off walking with him. I did get it revoked that time.
Got to car and realised he had given me a ticket. In the comments box he had written "gave her 10 mins". He had not set a time and I was 12 mins based on ticket times.
I wrote to council and stated that if he had said 10 mins, I would have picked up my son and carried him instead off walking with him. I did get it revoked that time.
The Highway Man said:
14-7 said:
The Highway Man said:
When I was a parking warden, I would observe for 5 minutes (personal preference), then entered the car details into my handheld terminal. The terminal had a pre-programmed 5 minutes observation period in which the terminal wouldn't let me print a ticket. Once the 5 minutes had elapsed, the ticket would print and away you go. I've lost count of the amount of times a motorist came running back saying, "I was only 2 minutes!" The machine couldn't lie as it couldn't be tampered with. They were told to challenge the ticket which was inevitably refused as the terminal times couldn't be argued with
Parking Warden to HATO?
WhereamI said:
bryan35 said:
A
Parked up, no change, went to get some, got ticket from machine, arrived back at car.
What do you mean by "went to get some"?Parked up, no change, went to get some, got ticket from machine, arrived back at car.
Are you saying they parked, went to a shop, bought something, got change, came back? Or something else. If all they did was go to the machine then clearly they shouldn't get a ticket, but if they went somewhere else first they will get one.
One of my old cars had a few slots moulded into the centre console to fit £1 coins. I think it may have been the '93 Cavalier or the '88 Escort. Main purpose was to have change handy for toll booths, I think, but it always came in handy for car parking.
What really grips my s
t is "This Machine Does Not Give Change". On top of the fact that none of the damned things accept smaller coins, this is a complete rip-off. I always fear a ticket when I park at Farnborough Main rail station, as the only way to pay seems to be a debit card in the Chip & Pin slot. It takes bloody forever. One day I'm either going to miss a train, or end up with a fine for failing to display a valid ticket, because the machine 'couldn't connect with my service provider' to take the payment. Then they have the cheek to suggest that they introduce this technology for OUR convenience. What they really mean is 'so we could sack the man who used to empty the coins out of the machines'.
The fairest solution would be 'pay on exit' car parks, as they tend to make everyone pay, and when the machine is broken you end up not paying, but they seem to be favoured by private car parks and newly built multi-storeys.
#moderntechnologyhasdoneverylittletomakemylifeanyeasier
What really grips my s
t is "This Machine Does Not Give Change". On top of the fact that none of the damned things accept smaller coins, this is a complete rip-off. I always fear a ticket when I park at Farnborough Main rail station, as the only way to pay seems to be a debit card in the Chip & Pin slot. It takes bloody forever. One day I'm either going to miss a train, or end up with a fine for failing to display a valid ticket, because the machine 'couldn't connect with my service provider' to take the payment. Then they have the cheek to suggest that they introduce this technology for OUR convenience. What they really mean is 'so we could sack the man who used to empty the coins out of the machines'.The fairest solution would be 'pay on exit' car parks, as they tend to make everyone pay, and when the machine is broken you end up not paying, but they seem to be favoured by private car parks and newly built multi-storeys.
#moderntechnologyhasdoneverylittletomakemylifeanyeasier
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