Council car drives up takes car registration and drives off.
Council car drives up takes car registration and drives off.
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Discussion

Hifly130

Original Poster:

122 posts

132 months

Thursday 14th January 2021
quotequote all
Hello could anyone provide any info.

I had to wait around for a couple of hours for a very specific legal reason in these Covid times ( can be verified to authorities if needed).

I found an empty car park whilst waiting in a rural spot ,pulled in to read a sign ( did not get out of car) to see if I had to pay. The sign said it was pay and display. Could not see any cameras certainly no ANPR. I was just about to drive off as wanted to find somewhere free to park when a council vehicle drove in.I immediately drove out ( not speeding, not communicating with driver or doing anything stupid). Drove a couple of miles down the road and found a free parking lay-by. While I was there parked up a council vehicle pulled in parked right behind ( guessing took number plate) and drove off.

My question is why was he taking my number plate? Was it to check if I’m outside my local area regarding Covid or are they going to try and give me a ticket but didn’t see my number plate in the car park and tried to get it at a different location?

davek_964

11,254 posts

204 months

Thursday 14th January 2021
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Seriously?

How would the council vehicle even know that you hadn't parked legally with a ticket, and were leaving when they drove in?

Why on earth would they follow you a couple of miles even if they knew you didn't have a ticket?

You don't even know that they did take your number - you "guess" they did.

They cannot fine you for being outside your local area - there is no such legislation.

You must have more serious things to worry about.

Scrump

23,933 posts

187 months

Thursday 14th January 2021
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Time limit on parking in the lay-by?
If the council car was parking enforcement then they take a picture with a time stamp. They then return later after the time limit has expired and if you are still there they take another picture and issue a ticket.

vikingaero

13,256 posts

198 months

Thursday 14th January 2021
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On a lot of P&D machines you have to input your car reg to get a ticket, normally so you don't transfer unused time to another driver.

With the latest machines you input your reg and don't even get a ticket as the traffic hun checks on their PDA (You can still get a receipt).

4rephill

5,167 posts

207 months

Thursday 14th January 2021
quotequote all
Hifly130 said:
Hello could anyone provide any info.

I had to wait around for a couple of hours for a very specific legal reason in these Covid times ( can be verified to authorities if needed).

I found an empty car park whilst waiting in a rural spot ,pulled in to read a sign ( did not get out of car) to see if I had to pay. The sign said it was pay and display. Could not see any cameras certainly no ANPR. I was just about to drive off as wanted to find somewhere free to park when a council vehicle drove in.I immediately drove out ( not speeding, not communicating with driver or doing anything stupid). Drove a couple of miles down the road and found a free parking lay-by. While I was there parked up a council vehicle pulled in parked right behind ( guessing took number plate) and drove off.

My question is why was he taking my number plate? Was it to check if I’m outside my local area regarding Covid or are they going to try and give me a ticket but didn’t see my number plate in the car park and tried to get it at a different location?
I'm assuming the other vehicle in question was marked up with local council signs on it? (Otherwise: How did you know it was a council vehicle?)

Look at this from the council workers point of view:

They turn up to a car park (for any number of reasons), see you hanging around in your car, with no other cars around, and as soon as you see them turn up, you immediately leave the car park.

Chances are, the council worker suspects that something dodgy is taking place (drug deals being done, dogging, drivers looking to hoon around an empty car park - Whatever)

After a split second of thinking, they then decide to make a note of your registration number, just in case, but you've already driven away.

They've then followed you to your next parking location: a quiet, empty lay-by, and made a note of your registration number, as you appear to be acting suspiciously (Your leaving the car park as soon as they arrive might only be a coincidence, but, to the council worker it more than likely looked highly suspicious - You keep parking up in quiet, empty locations)

If I saw a car in a deserted car park, suddenly scarper as soon as they saw me turn up, I'd be suspicious too, and if I thought a crime might be taking place, then I'd be getting the car's registration number too - Just in case.

I seriously doubt it's got anything to do with COVID.

quinny100

1,013 posts

215 months

Thursday 14th January 2021
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I strongly suspect this was nothing more than coincidence and the reason the van stopped behind you had nothing to do with taking down your number plate. It's infinitely more likely the operative just stopped to take a call, check their emails or scratch their arse than to take down your particulars.

If you weren't doing anything outside of the legislation you have nothing to worry about anyway. Dogging in rural car parks is still OK as long as it's only with one other person and you can pass it off as exercise yes

NikBartlett

703 posts

110 months

Thursday 14th January 2021
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They don't need to take your registration, ANPR already has it logged. The Council vehicle was just doing a spot check. Expect a nice big fine through the post unless you can supply proof your trip outside was legitimate. Unless you were wearing your tin foil hat laugh

NGee

2,931 posts

193 months

Thursday 14th January 2021
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This has got to be a wind up surely? Have the government really managed to turn the whole nation into a pile of gibbering paranoid idiots?


Roger Irrelevant

3,389 posts

142 months

Thursday 14th January 2021
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I've heard about this. While you were distracted - looking in your mirror at the 'council' van - another operative would have jumped out of the hedgerow and put a tracking device on your car. Now They know where you live, They will break in while you're sleeping and inject you with one of them vaccines with the microchips in. Best sleep with one eye open and be alert for 'council' vans doing suspicious things like driving into car parks and stopping in lay-bys.

Or it could have been a coincidence.

Sebring440

3,207 posts

125 months

Thursday 14th January 2021
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Roger Irrelevant said:
I've heard about this. While you were distracted - looking in your mirror at the 'council' van - another operative would have jumped out of the hedgerow and put a tracking device on your car. Now They know where you live, They will break in while you're sleeping and inject you with one of them vaccines with the microchips in. Best sleep with one eye open and be alert for 'council' vans doing suspicious things like driving into car parks and stopping in lay-bys.

Or it could have been a coincidence.
Why post such ridiculous nonsense?

You know full well while he was distracted the "council" operative was tying up a couple of dogs to the nearest bush, hoping the driver would then get out of the car and come over to the bush?


ReverendCounter

6,087 posts

205 months

Thursday 14th January 2021
quotequote all
4rephill said:
I'm assuming the other vehicle in question was marked up with local council signs on it? (Otherwise: How did you know it was a council vehicle?)

Look at this from the council workers point of view:

They turn up to a car park (for any number of reasons), see you hanging around in your car, with no other cars around, and as soon as you see them turn up, you immediately leave the car park.

Chances are, the council worker suspects that something dodgy is taking place (drug deals being done, dogging, drivers looking to hoon around an empty car park - Whatever)

After a split second of thinking, they then decide to make a note of your registration number, just in case, but you've already driven away.

They've then followed you to your next parking location: a quiet, empty lay-by, and made a note of your registration number, as you appear to be acting suspiciously (Your leaving the car park as soon as they arrive might only be a coincidence, but, to the council worker it more than likely looked highly suspicious - You keep parking up in quiet, empty locations)

If I saw a car in a deserted car park, suddenly scarper as soon as they saw me turn up, I'd be suspicious too, and if I thought a crime might be taking place, then I'd be getting the car's registration number too - Just in case.

I seriously doubt it's got anything to do with COVID.
Is that really how your mind works? Man enters empty car park, leaves as soon as he realises his mistake, so deserves to be followed and recorded, presumed a criminal due to your assumptions and inferences?

Weirdo.

Hifly130

Original Poster:

122 posts

132 months

Thursday 14th January 2021
quotequote all
Your right maybe I am been paranoid about the whole thing, but recently I’ve lost a massive amount of my income due Covid and now a life long family issue has arisen and really don’t want to end up fighting a financial penalty on top. My concern was they think Ive been in car park for a long period I’ve driven off then they didn’t get a good enough look at number plate so went round local area to get the number plate.

Yes the car was definitely council marked. There’s no ANPR at the car park. Suppose if there was ANPR there would be no need to take number plate later. Looked quite an old machine so don’t think you have to enter reg.

Yes can fully understand it potentially looking dodgy ( was daylight). I’ve got nothing to hide, car is fully insured/taxed wasn’t doing something like donuts or anything so they can search/record number plate all they want. I’m pretty definite he only pulled into lay by to record my number plate. Put it this way if I pulled up rapidly right behind a police car in a long empty lay-by like the council car did I’m sure police would definitely be thinking something was up.

Someone mentioned pulling up taking a picture of me parked in a time restricted bay. This could well be it. There was a 1 hour limit which I was well within so maybe they were going to pop back to check if I had gone in time. Especially if they had seen me drive out the 1st car park.


Heaveho

7,451 posts

203 months

Thursday 14th January 2021
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NGee said:
This has got to be a wind up surely? Have the government really managed to turn the whole nation into a pile of gibbering paranoid idiots?
Yes.

Electro1980

9,139 posts

168 months

Thursday 14th January 2021
quotequote all
NGee said:
This has got to be a wind up surely? Have the government really managed to turn the whole nation into a pile of gibbering paranoid idiots?
Scared? Yes. I think that’s a very unfair way of putting it though. Police forces across the U.K. have shown that they are taking very different interpretations of the law, often with no reference to the law. People don’t want a £200 fine. Even if it is not valid they can’t be sure that the police will back down, so have a choice of contest it, with all the stress, or pay £200.

The actions that you will get an FPN for are very unclear and most people don’t want to be stopped by the police. Even if the law is clear the way it is being implemented is terrible and people are living in fear. My wife is frightened every time she goes out that the police might not agree that whatever she is doing is essential. She is very law abiding and sticks to rules as best she can, but is now living in fear.

Oceanrower

1,358 posts

141 months

Thursday 14th January 2021
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Electro1980 said:
My wife is frightened every time she goes out that the police might not agree that whatever she is doing is essential.
Doesn't matter whether they agree it's essential or not. It doesn't have to be. Just reasonable.

For the twenty-fourteenth gazabillionth time (as BV would say)

Electro1980

9,139 posts

168 months

Thursday 14th January 2021
quotequote all
Oceanrower said:
Electro1980 said:
My wife is frightened every time she goes out that the police might not agree that whatever she is doing is essential.
Doesn't matter whether they agree it's essential or not. It doesn't have to be. Just reasonable.

For the twenty-fourteenth gazabillionth time (as BV would say)
Ok, essential, reasonable or whatever. The point is the police may not agree.

anonymous-user

83 months

Thursday 14th January 2021
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MiB.

Obvs.

anxious_ant

2,626 posts

108 months

Thursday 14th January 2021
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It's to pass it over to the CCP. Central Covid Police.

Hungrymc

7,371 posts

166 months

Thursday 14th January 2021
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Heaveho said:
NGee said:
This has got to be a wind up surely? Have the government really managed to turn the whole nation into a pile of gibbering paranoid idiots?
Yes.
And that is the real underlying issue with their behavior. I know many people who will not undertake lawful, safe and sensible activities at the moment for fear of getting hassle from the police. It’s deliberate, and it’s piss poor.

Hifly130

Original Poster:

122 posts

132 months

Thursday 14th January 2021
quotequote all
What’s Mib? Sorry for my ignorance.

The whole travelling out of the area in relation to Covid I don’t really care about as I have a very reasonable valid reason with evidence. With all that’s going on for me that point is of very little concern or bother. I’m certainly not the sort of person afraid to even step outside my house in these present times.

My main concern was some council worker trying to pin an unwarranted/unfair parking ticket on me especially by his behaviour in how he drew up behind me in the lay by.