Amnesiac pleads over car fines
Discussion
A man with amnesia keeps getting parking fines because he forgets where he leaves his car. Robert Mottram, who suffers from short term memory loss, can drive without any difficulties but he will almost instantly forget where he parks it.
Mr Mottram, 56, from Southport, Merseyside, has been having memory problems since undergoing surgery following a brain haemorrhage in 1987.
He has pleaded with his local council to exempt him from the fines, but it said there was nothing it could do. If I go in to a car park and the disabled area is full I have terrible trouble trying to find the car again later
"It is only when I get home that I realise I've left my car and I have to go back and get it.
"And if I go in to a car park and the disabled area is full I have terrible trouble trying to find the car again later."
When he suffered the haemorrhage at the age of 41, Mr Mottram initially had his driving licence taken away.
"I had to go and see the government's doctors after the surgery, but they said I was OK to drive," he said.
"When I'm doing something it's alright. It's when I walk away that I have trouble."
He has asked Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council, which employs Southport's traffic wardens, to overlook the fines, because of the problem and the fact he is disabled.
However, the council said there is nothing it can do. A spokesman said: "It would be completely unworkable to mould parking exceptions to specific individuals.
"Our attendants have no option but to place penalty charge notices on vehicles in contravention of parking restrictions.
"Motorists do have the right to appeal against any notice and all appeals are investigated thoroughly."
A man with amnesia keeps getting parking fines because he forgets where he leaves his car. Robert Mottram, who suffers from short term memory loss, can drive without any difficulties but he will almost instantly forget where he parks it.
Mr Mottram, 56, from Southport, Merseyside, has been having memory problems since undergoing surgery following a brain haemorrhage in 1987.
He has pleaded with his local council to exempt him from the fines, but it said there was nothing it could do. If I go in to a car park and the disabled area is full I have terrible trouble trying to find the car again later
"It is only when I get home that I realise I've left my car and I have to go back and get it.
"And if I go in to a car park and the disabled area is full I have terrible trouble trying to find the car again later."
When he suffered the haemorrhage at the age of 41, Mr Mottram initially had his driving licence taken away.
"I had to go and see the government's doctors after the surgery, but they said I was OK to drive," he said.
"When I'm doing something it's alright. It's when I walk away that I have trouble."
He has asked Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council, which employs Southport's traffic wardens, to overlook the fines, because of the problem and the fact he is disabled.
However, the council said there is nothing it can do. A spokesman said: "It would be completely unworkable to mould parking exceptions to specific individuals.
"Our attendants have no option but to place penalty charge notices on vehicles in contravention of parking restrictions.
Good to see common sense, flexibility and 21st century management techniques being used for the benefit of society.
"Motorists do have the right to appeal against any notice and all appeals are investigated thoroughly."
Good to know where some of the council tax is spent then.
cos he'll forget to look in it for his reminders doh 
I live in Southport and have had a few run ins with the parking SS. They are absolute to$$ers.
In the local rag, reporting this issue, the parking $$ Kommandant suggested that whilst sympathetic to his problems, perhaps Mottram should leave a note on his dashboard telling him how to set his disabled permit correctly. What a complete prat. No wonder he enjoys the heady status of Parking Manager!
In the local rag, reporting this issue, the parking $$ Kommandant suggested that whilst sympathetic to his problems, perhaps Mottram should leave a note on his dashboard telling him how to set his disabled permit correctly. What a complete prat. No wonder he enjoys the heady status of Parking Manager!
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