Parking Restrictions

[TheTank]

Hi All,

I have just received a PCN from Barnet Council for parking on a yellow line at 6:53pm. There were no road signs near where I parked to indicate that there were any waiting or parking restrictions in force. The nearest signs were at least 35-40 meters away and these stated that you could not park or load until after 7pm. Does anyone know if I have sufficient grounds (i.e. due to the fact that there were no signs near to where I had parked) to appeal the PCN? Links to any official sites would be most useful.

Cheers

[tvrgit]

Traffic SIgns Regulations and General Directions say that there has to be a plate within a certain distance of the ends of the restriction (25 metres I think it is) and if the restriction is longer, then additional plates "regularly".

35-40 metres as you state, sounds normal - it is up to the driver to check if he is not sure of the restrictions, not the LA to display a sign beside every space.

I think you would have to be very lucky to appeal this.

[Dwight VanDriver]

....but Barnet, like the majority of London Authorities, have applied for and been granted :

The Road Traffic (Special Parking Areas) (London Borough of Barnet) Order 1994 which decrims parking and also relieves them from posting reminder signs at intervals as per the old days. There is an obligation for them to erect signs on roads at the start of the area outlining the restriction on parking. Only where there is a difference in the times for the yellows (single to double) is there a need to erect a sign at the change site.

dvd

[tvrgit]

I'd heard of that change DVD but have never seen it "on the street".

In any case it still sounds like there's no scope for appeal.

[esselte]

Dwight VanDriver said:

....but Barnet, like the majority of London Authorities, have applied for and been granted :

The Road Traffic (Special Parking Areas) (London Borough of Barnet) Order 1994 which decrims parking and also relieves them from posting reminder signs at intervals as per the old days. There is an obligation for them to erect signs on roads at the start of the area outlining the restriction on parking. Only where there is a difference in the times for the yellows (single to double) is there a need to erect a sign at the change site.

dvd

So does this mean it's a case of park up,walk for 10 mins to find the sign ,then get back to your car to find it's been ticketed for breaching the rules which you have just found?Hmmmm that's fair.

[Boosted LS1]

It means there must be signage informing you that you are about to enter a controlled parking zone, that's all they have to do. So you should be able to see the signs before you enter. They have to make sure the signage is visible at every entrance into the controlled area. If the signs weren't present then you have an argument.

Boosted.

[TheTank]

I contacted someone at the council and they stated that there should be a sign within 30 metres of where the vehicle was parked for it to be deemed reasonable for a driver to check for restrictions. I have appealed and will now just sit back and wait and see what happens. Also, I have spoken to various people and seen general advice on the web suggesting that you should always appeal as the council's do not want to waste time and money investigating appeals and very often give in if you appeal. BTW This is not a controlled parking area and therefore there are no signs on the approach.

Will post the result of my appeal !!