Congestion Charge Problem
Discussion
Today I received a penalty notice for not paying for the congestion charge. At the time the car was photographed it was being recovered for me by the AA and taken from Reading to Romford.
The car must have been on the back of a lorry but the number plate would have been visible.
The AA will be sending me a letter confirming that my car was being recovered but the AA recovery policy insists that the AA will not pay tolls.
Has this happened to anybody else and what is my next action.
How can I get a copy of the law for congestion charging, I presume that the offence is being inside the area not driving in it and the photograph will be evidence of this regardless of it being on the lorry - am I banged to rights, should I pay the penalty at £40 before it escalates to £80?
Russ
The car must have been on the back of a lorry but the number plate would have been visible.
The AA will be sending me a letter confirming that my car was being recovered but the AA recovery policy insists that the AA will not pay tolls.
Has this happened to anybody else and what is my next action.
How can I get a copy of the law for congestion charging, I presume that the offence is being inside the area not driving in it and the photograph will be evidence of this regardless of it being on the lorry - am I banged to rights, should I pay the penalty at £40 before it escalates to £80?
Russ
Definitely get on to a tabloid about this - they'd lap it up.
This CC thing really does take this piss. First they complain that it works too well and they aren't making enough money (not that money was ever the issue, oh no), then because average speeds have gone up all the Think of the Children mob get in a flap, and now this!
This CC thing really does take this piss. First they complain that it works too well and they aren't making enough money (not that money was ever the issue, oh no), then because average speeds have gone up all the Think of the Children mob get in a flap, and now this!
Now, here's a hypothetical idea. If everyone who works 'up in town' were to walk or cycle around the CC zone with a number-plate on their back ...
I doubt it's a crime - even to have a real number-plate on your back. It might be worth the publicity and encourage others to follow suit if it were your nunber-plate ... because not only the tabloids but also the broadsheets would love it!
Of course, if you were to use someone else's number-plate it might be amusing but it could also cause them some inconvenience (and you wouldn't want to do that, would you? Not even to use Mr Brunstrom's number-plate!)
It would likely stretch Capita's capacity to process the notices and the appeals and would be an excellent protest.
Now, anyone (BiB, bar-room/cell-block lawyers, or even real lawyers) tell me if an offence would be committed?
Streaky
NOTE: this thread is NOT to be taken as any incitement to commit a crime, if to do as hypothetically suggested above is a crime!
>> Edited by streaky on Thursday 2nd October 08:23
I doubt it's a crime - even to have a real number-plate on your back. It might be worth the publicity and encourage others to follow suit if it were your nunber-plate ... because not only the tabloids but also the broadsheets would love it!
Of course, if you were to use someone else's number-plate it might be amusing but it could also cause them some inconvenience (and you wouldn't want to do that, would you? Not even to use Mr Brunstrom's number-plate!)
It would likely stretch Capita's capacity to process the notices and the appeals and would be an excellent protest.
Now, anyone (BiB, bar-room/cell-block lawyers, or even real lawyers) tell me if an offence would be committed?
Streaky
NOTE: this thread is NOT to be taken as any incitement to commit a crime, if to do as hypothetically suggested above is a crime!
>> Edited by streaky on Thursday 2nd October 08:23
That is definitely taking the p*ss. I'D let it run and let them run their bills up as high as possible then take them to court for "demanding money with threats", "attempted extortion", possibly misuse of power and anything else you can throw at them. Get the tabloids on your side and get them to foot the bill if you haven't any legal insurance..... Anything to discredit these communist barstewards and their extortion is good.... They're OUR roads and are fully paid for, not a pocket filling exercise for some greenslime commie with other agendas ........
Unless it was being towed and they got your number not the one of the towing vehicle ???
If it was on the back of a transporter - it wasn't being driven in the zone so wtf. I'm sure the small print is about the car being driven in the zone if they have worded it to say moving then thats just silly. There is no point writing, btw, you have a bit on the back of the fine form to fill out to plead your case or something like that.
Dave
If it was on the back of a transporter - it wasn't being driven in the zone so wtf. I'm sure the small print is about the car being driven in the zone if they have worded it to say moving then thats just silly. There is no point writing, btw, you have a bit on the back of the fine form to fill out to plead your case or something like that.
Dave
Pies referred me to the web-site but I was unable to find the actual wording of the regulations there.
These days laws are rarely related to an actual offence, e.g. not displaying a tax disk rather than not having one. So the offence is probably "allowing your number plate to be photographed within the zone" rather than anything like actually driving in the zone. But I can't find a way to check it, they probably fixed it so there is no way around it.
The TFL web-site says that every picture is manually checked before a penalty notice is issued, I can't believe that a human operator could be so careless to allow a notice for a car on a transporter (not just being towed) to be done - can you?
These days laws are rarely related to an actual offence, e.g. not displaying a tax disk rather than not having one. So the offence is probably "allowing your number plate to be photographed within the zone" rather than anything like actually driving in the zone. But I can't find a way to check it, they probably fixed it so there is no way around it.
The TFL web-site says that every picture is manually checked before a penalty notice is issued, I can't believe that a human operator could be so careless to allow a notice for a car on a transporter (not just being towed) to be done - can you?
rus wood said:YES! On teh basis of "pay peanuts ..."
Pies referred me to the web-site but I was unable to find the actual wording of the regulations there.
These days laws are rarely related to an actual offence, e.g. not displaying a tax disk rather than not having one. So the offence is probably "allowing your number plate to be photographed within the zone" rather than anything like actually driving in the zone. But I can't find a way to check it, they probably fixed it so there is no way around it.
The TFL web-site says that every picture is manually checked before a penalty notice is issued, I can't believe that a human operator could be so careless to allow a notice for a car on a transporter (not just being towed) to be done - can you?
streaky said:
Now, here's a hypothetical idea. If everyone who works 'up in town' were to walk or cycle around the CC zone with a number-plate on their back ...
I doubt it's a crime - even to have a real number-plate on your back. It might be worth the publicity and encourage others to follow suit if it were your nunber-plate ... because not only the tabloids but also the broadsheets would love it!
Of course, if you were to use someone else's number-plate it might be amusing but it could also cause them some inconvenience (and you wouldn't want to do that, would you? Not even to use Mr Brunstrom's number-plate!)
It would likely stretch Capita's capacity to process the notices and the appeals and would be an excellent protest.
Now, anyone (BiB, bar-room/cell-block lawyers, or even real lawyers) tell me if an offence would be committed?
Streaky
NOTE: this thread is NOT to be taken as any incitement to commit a crime, if to do as hypothetically suggested above is a crime!
>> Edited by streaky on Thursday 2nd October 08:23
Would it not work more effectivly, if say 50 people were to wear the same number, and walk about in different areas at the same time
:
There is a deity after all.
This morning I received a notification of cancellation of the penalty charge. The original charge was blamed on an administrative error.
From the web site:-
"Following a final check at midnight, the computer will keep the registration numbers of vehicles that should have paid but not done so. We will then manually check each recorded image and issue a Penalty Charge Notice of £80"
This seems to be an error by a numptie not checking rather than an administrative error.
No mention of the inconvenience to me or the sleepless nights, the cost of obtaining legal advice (AA £1 per minute legal line) and stamps.
Still a happy ending eventually. Thanks for your messages of support - nobody thought that they could seriously continue with this but there was always a nagging doubt.
This morning I received a notification of cancellation of the penalty charge. The original charge was blamed on an administrative error.
From the web site:-
"Following a final check at midnight, the computer will keep the registration numbers of vehicles that should have paid but not done so. We will then manually check each recorded image and issue a Penalty Charge Notice of £80"
This seems to be an error by a numptie not checking rather than an administrative error.
No mention of the inconvenience to me or the sleepless nights, the cost of obtaining legal advice (AA £1 per minute legal line) and stamps.
Still a happy ending eventually. Thanks for your messages of support - nobody thought that they could seriously continue with this but there was always a nagging doubt.
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