parking - help please

[tuscan_thunder]

Hi all,

Got a ticket yesterday. Was parked in a council owned pay and display and had a 2 hour permit on. Over-ran a bit at the barber's and was 14 minutes over limit.

Ticket on and smug traffic warden disappearing.

Now, the ticket said 'time first observed 15.46'
and 'time ticket issued 15.46'. Surely there has to be a difference between these times? Does this make ticket invalid?

Any other help as to how to NOT pay this gratefully received.

[Hollywood Wheels]

I think you've had it mate. Been there, done that. Dealing with these people is like

If you want to appeal they send you a letter with a list of what 'grounds' they'll listen to. So if your reason isn't on their list they won't even entertain it. Great system eh?

If it ever went to Court they may well not turn up. They earn so much money from the people who do pay that it's not worth them sending someone. I personally wouldn't take that chance as it could cost you more..

However, as Devils Advocate, you admit you were late. Might be best to take this one on the chin.

[jacobyte]

Fight it - definitely.

[ca092003]

Personally, I would just pay it.

[tuscan_thunder]

yes i know i was over the time, but the thing that narked me was the time seen/time issued bit.

had it been “time seen x” and “time ticket issued y" it'd be less bothered and just pay it. (despite the fact i'd bought a permit)

anyone know about the seen/issued thing?

[streaky]

If the 'time seen' was several minutes past the expiry time, I suggest there are few gounds for protest. If the 'time seen', 'time issued' and 'time expired' were all the same, the council (and your local newspaper) might feel the warden had been over-zealous - Streaky

[Dwight VanDriver]

Nothing ventured nothing gained.

Consider politely write a letter, with COPY of ticket, pointing out that according to the ticket no offence has been committed as the time the vehicle was first seen is the same as the time the ticket was issued. Under these circumstances ask that the ticket be made void. (Obviously you will not go into realms about the time you parked etc etc.)

Obviously a mistake by the Warden but bear in mind if push came to shove they can put him the box and give evidence on the correct timings. Not sure how they would do this in a County Court (such matters no longer under Mags Court jurisdiction, presume they would chase as a debt.)

DVD

[pdV6]

I think the time ticketed - time observed thing is for when there's free parking with a time limit, i.e. if you can park for an hour, they'd 1st have to spot you and then check that you're still there at least one hour later. Where you've paid & displayed, they only need to see that you've exceeded your time limit in order to ticket you, i.e. one observation & ticket immediately...

Sorry about that.

[xxxxxxrich]

Dwight VanDriver said:

Nothing ventured nothing gained. Not sure how they would do this in a County Court (such matters no longer under Mags Court jurisdiction, presume they would chase as a debt.) DVD

It's done by the 'Independant Parking and Traffic Adjudicator' Not in Court and that's after you have appealed to the council and they reject it.

If you want to see my fight with them look in :
www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?t=133805&f=10&h=0

I'm on a looser i reckon...