Traffic Wardens renamed 'Civil Enforcement Officers'
Discussion
Just seen on the news about the latest money-raising idea, where parking fines can be issued from CCTV evidence, and apparently Traffic Wardens are being renamed 'Civil Enforcement Officers'!
I can't quite put into words what I feel about that new name, but it scares me about the way things are going in this country.......
I can't quite put into words what I feel about that new name, but it scares me about the way things are going in this country.......
I never understand the negativity towards traffic wardens?
They will only ticket you if you park where you shouldn't? E.g.
You've parked in a permit/loading bay - This is usually permit only to benefit the local residents or businesses who need to park. Read the signs next time!
You've not bothered to pay at all - Pikey.
You're parked with a fake disabled badge - Pikey.
You've parked on double yellows - Your fault.
You've overstayed your parking ticket - Next time buy one which will give you enough time and keep an eye on the watch!
Its not exactly rocket science. Sometimes I have stopped on double yellows briefly in the knowledge that if I get caught, then that is my own fault and to take it on the chin.
Obviously, there are some circumstances where signs may not be clear etc, but in that case take it up with the NCP desk people.
They will only ticket you if you park where you shouldn't? E.g.
You've parked in a permit/loading bay - This is usually permit only to benefit the local residents or businesses who need to park. Read the signs next time!
You've not bothered to pay at all - Pikey.
You're parked with a fake disabled badge - Pikey.
You've parked on double yellows - Your fault.
You've overstayed your parking ticket - Next time buy one which will give you enough time and keep an eye on the watch!
Its not exactly rocket science. Sometimes I have stopped on double yellows briefly in the knowledge that if I get caught, then that is my own fault and to take it on the chin.
Obviously, there are some circumstances where signs may not be clear etc, but in that case take it up with the NCP desk people.
MKH9130 said:
I never understand the negativity towards traffic wardens?
They will only ticket you if you park where you shouldn't? E.g.
You've parked in a permit/loading bay - This is usually permit only to benefit the local residents or businesses who need to park. Read the signs next time!
You've not bothered to pay at all - Pikey.
You're parked with a fake disabled badge - Pikey.
You've parked on double yellows - Your fault.
You've overstayed your parking ticket - Next time buy one which will give you enough time and keep an eye on the watch!
Its not exactly rocket science. Sometimes I have stopped on double yellows briefly in the knowledge that if I get caught, then that is my own fault and to take it on the chin.
Obviously, there are some circumstances where signs may not be clear etc, but in that case take it up with the NCP desk people.
+1They will only ticket you if you park where you shouldn't? E.g.
You've parked in a permit/loading bay - This is usually permit only to benefit the local residents or businesses who need to park. Read the signs next time!
You've not bothered to pay at all - Pikey.
You're parked with a fake disabled badge - Pikey.
You've parked on double yellows - Your fault.
You've overstayed your parking ticket - Next time buy one which will give you enough time and keep an eye on the watch!
Its not exactly rocket science. Sometimes I have stopped on double yellows briefly in the knowledge that if I get caught, then that is my own fault and to take it on the chin.
Obviously, there are some circumstances where signs may not be clear etc, but in that case take it up with the NCP desk people.
I had to edit this post because I forgot to write the "+1". I think I need a holiday....
Edited by RichBurley on Monday 31st March 08:51
MKH9130 said:
I never understand the negativity towards traffic wardens?
They will only ticket you if you park where you shouldn't? E.g.
You've parked in a permit/loading bay - This is usually permit only to benefit the local residents or businesses who need to park. Read the signs next time!
You've not bothered to pay at all - Pikey.
You're parked with a fake disabled badge - Pikey.
You've parked on double yellows - Your fault.
You've overstayed your parking ticket - Next time buy one which will give you enough time and keep an eye on the watch!
Its not exactly rocket science. Sometimes I have stopped on double yellows briefly in the knowledge that if I get caught, then that is my own fault and to take it on the chin.
Obviously, there are some circumstances where signs may not be clear etc, but in that case take it up with the NCP desk people.
Not always true especially in london. Did you see that documentary about them where they had a few being interviewed and admiting to the blatantly dishonest practices some of them get up to?They will only ticket you if you park where you shouldn't? E.g.
You've parked in a permit/loading bay - This is usually permit only to benefit the local residents or businesses who need to park. Read the signs next time!
You've not bothered to pay at all - Pikey.
You're parked with a fake disabled badge - Pikey.
You've parked on double yellows - Your fault.
You've overstayed your parking ticket - Next time buy one which will give you enough time and keep an eye on the watch!
Its not exactly rocket science. Sometimes I have stopped on double yellows briefly in the knowledge that if I get caught, then that is my own fault and to take it on the chin.
Obviously, there are some circumstances where signs may not be clear etc, but in that case take it up with the NCP desk people.
This policing on the cheap is a scary thing. These traffic wardens are not the sort of people that I want policing. In some cases they are policing for profit. Even more scary is what they are policing, basically enforcing (often local only) by-laws imposed by the council with little real electoral remit. In a country where rightly "ignorance is no excuse in the eyes of the law" such piecemmeal and inconsistent legislation and enforcement thereof is a scary thing.
Rocco Stigfredi said:
ok then... so how about when they make your whole street permit only parking, but won't give you a permit for the street?
Yes, but that isn't the wardens themselves! That is their bosses, the council or the NCP! (Or both). The wardens themselves don't dish out permits or decide to make a whole street permit only
I've got no problem with parking restrictions being enforced by official council/government employees.
I'd much rather that than these independant bully groups enforcing parking fines, and having seemingly limitless access to my "data protected" DVLA and address details.
Anyone here know Marlborough in Wiltshire? Ever tried getting through the highstreet at peak periods? There is loads of parking available, but as it's pay and display there are always half a dozen cars on the double yellows. These double yellows are (surprisingly for a Wiltshire council) placed where a parked car restricts access and vision.
Incidently, with double yellows, what is the law with dropping someone off, or waiting while a passenger runs to a cash point for example? If legal to do so, will the CCTV begin firing hundreds of fines out wrongly?
I'd much rather that than these independant bully groups enforcing parking fines, and having seemingly limitless access to my "data protected" DVLA and address details.
Anyone here know Marlborough in Wiltshire? Ever tried getting through the highstreet at peak periods? There is loads of parking available, but as it's pay and display there are always half a dozen cars on the double yellows. These double yellows are (surprisingly for a Wiltshire council) placed where a parked car restricts access and vision.
Incidently, with double yellows, what is the law with dropping someone off, or waiting while a passenger runs to a cash point for example? If legal to do so, will the CCTV begin firing hundreds of fines out wrongly?
Bloke on the radio this morning who was in one of the CCTV parking enforcement 'test areas' got a £60 ticket when he pulled over to let an ambulance pass! He'd seen it coming a few cars back so he indicated and pulled to the side of the road for about 15 seconds and as soon as the ambulance passed he pulled out again.
A week later he gets a ticket with two pics of his car timed 9 seconds apart thus 'proving' he had parked!
Initially he lost his appeal; but when he got his solicitor involved with a demand for the CCTV footage 1 minute either side of the offence for an upcoming potential court case, they backed down! As the journalist pointed out - he spent over £300 on legal fees for a £60 fine...
Interesting statistic on News 24 this morning - less than 1% of parking fines are appealed, yet over 60% are succesful!
A week later he gets a ticket with two pics of his car timed 9 seconds apart thus 'proving' he had parked!
Initially he lost his appeal; but when he got his solicitor involved with a demand for the CCTV footage 1 minute either side of the offence for an upcoming potential court case, they backed down! As the journalist pointed out - he spent over £300 on legal fees for a £60 fine...
Interesting statistic on News 24 this morning - less than 1% of parking fines are appealed, yet over 60% are succesful!
john_r said:
Bloke on the radio this morning who was in one of the CCTV parking enforcement 'test areas' got a £60 ticket when he pulled over to let an ambulance pass! He'd seen it coming a few cars back so he indicated and pulled to the side of the road for about 15 seconds and as soon as the ambulance passed he pulled out again.
A week later he gets a ticket with two pics of his car timed 9 seconds apart thus 'proving' he had parked!
Initially he lost his appeal; but when he got his solicitor involved with a demand for the CCTV footage 1 minute either side of the offence for an upcoming potential court case, they backed down! As the journalist pointed out - he spent over £300 on legal fees for a £60 fine...
Interesting statistic on News 24 this morning - less than 1% of parking fines are appealed, yet over 60% are succesful!
It is ridiculous. So, it's a red light, you spot the red light camera, and you see an ambulance approaching from behind... do you move forward and take the hit or point at the camera and indicate to the ambulance to wait? Think of the ball-ache trying to deal with getting off the fine before replying.A week later he gets a ticket with two pics of his car timed 9 seconds apart thus 'proving' he had parked!
Initially he lost his appeal; but when he got his solicitor involved with a demand for the CCTV footage 1 minute either side of the offence for an upcoming potential court case, they backed down! As the journalist pointed out - he spent over £300 on legal fees for a £60 fine...
Interesting statistic on News 24 this morning - less than 1% of parking fines are appealed, yet over 60% are succesful!
Edited by shadowninja on Monday 31st March 09:22
john_r said:
Bloke on the radio this morning who was in one of the CCTV parking enforcement 'test areas' got a £60 ticket when he pulled over to let an ambulance pass! He'd seen it coming a few cars back so he indicated and pulled to the side of the road for about 15 seconds and as soon as the ambulance passed he pulled out again.
A week later he gets a ticket with two pics of his car timed 9 seconds apart thus 'proving' he had parked!
Initially he lost his appeal; but when he got his solicitor involved with a demand for the CCTV footage 1 minute either side of the offence for an upcoming potential court case, they backed down! As the journalist pointed out - he spent over £300 on legal fees for a £60 fine...
Interesting statistic on News 24 this morning - less than 1% of parking fines are appealed, yet over 60% are succesful!
Similar case on BBC news, a woman pulled over waiting for a bendy bus to pass her and got stung for £60.A week later he gets a ticket with two pics of his car timed 9 seconds apart thus 'proving' he had parked!
Initially he lost his appeal; but when he got his solicitor involved with a demand for the CCTV footage 1 minute either side of the offence for an upcoming potential court case, they backed down! As the journalist pointed out - he spent over £300 on legal fees for a £60 fine...
Interesting statistic on News 24 this morning - less than 1% of parking fines are appealed, yet over 60% are succesful!
The use of CCTV is such a drastic change to parking enforcement. I predict huge rises in revenue from this change in the law.
s.john_r said:
Interesting statistic on News 24 this morning - less than 1% of parking fines are appealed, yet over 60% are succesful!
That doesn't say to me that there are a large number of fines that were issued wrongly, rather that 99% of the people who got tickets KNEW, and therefore accepted, that their car was illegally parked.MKH9130 said:
I never understand the negativity towards traffic wardens?
They will only ticket you if you park where you shouldn't? E.g.
You've parked in a permit/loading bay - This is usually permit only to benefit the local residents or businesses who need to park. Read the signs next time!
You've not bothered to pay at all - Pikey.
You're parked with a fake disabled badge - Pikey.
You've parked on double yellows - Your fault.
You've overstayed your parking ticket - Next time buy one which will give you enough time and keep an eye on the watch!
Its not exactly rocket science. Sometimes I have stopped on double yellows briefly in the knowledge that if I get caught, then that is my own fault and to take it on the chin.
Obviously, there are some circumstances where signs may not be clear etc, but in that case take it up with the NCP desk people.
You've clearly never fallen foul of deliberately confusingly-worded parking restrictions and been hit by a three-figure sum as a fine despite having paid plenty of money for a parking ticket and parked within a marked bay in a near-deserted car park then?They will only ticket you if you park where you shouldn't? E.g.
You've parked in a permit/loading bay - This is usually permit only to benefit the local residents or businesses who need to park. Read the signs next time!
You've not bothered to pay at all - Pikey.
You're parked with a fake disabled badge - Pikey.
You've parked on double yellows - Your fault.
You've overstayed your parking ticket - Next time buy one which will give you enough time and keep an eye on the watch!
Its not exactly rocket science. Sometimes I have stopped on double yellows briefly in the knowledge that if I get caught, then that is my own fault and to take it on the chin.
Obviously, there are some circumstances where signs may not be clear etc, but in that case take it up with the NCP desk people.
In Oxford, there are car parks where, if you plan to stay past a certain time, you have to buy two similarly-priced tickets, at the same time, to stick on the windscreen, even if you only stray over that time marker by a few minutes. This isn't made very clear on the instructions and the machines make it difficult to process (you can end up with two identical tickets, both wrong).
Get that wrong (as I did once) and you get fined £100. You've paid plenty, you're not blocking anyone, and yet they see it as perfectly acceptable to charge you more than they would for speeding in a built-up area because 'it's the rules'.
My Mum once ran into a similar problem - parked in a Pay & Display car park despite the old machines having been removed and the new ones not yet installed. She got fined £70 for not displaying a ticket despite there being nowhere in that car park to buy one. The defence of the parking wardens was 'you could have bought one in another car park'.
And now they can do it by post, so you can't contest it with facts, such as being there and seeing it for yourself and pointing out discrepancies.
Despicable.
Edited by Twincam16 on Monday 31st March 09:43
MKH9130 said:
I never understand the negativity towards traffic wardens?
They will only ticket you if you park where you shouldn't? E.g.
You've parked in a permit/loading bay - This is usually permit only to benefit the local residents or businesses who need to park. Read the signs next time!
You've not bothered to pay at all - Pikey.
You're parked with a fake disabled badge - Pikey.
You've parked on double yellows - Your fault.
You've overstayed your parking ticket - Next time buy one which will give you enough time and keep an eye on the watch!
Its not exactly rocket science. Sometimes I have stopped on double yellows briefly in the knowledge that if I get caught, then that is my own fault and to take it on the chin.
Obviously, there are some circumstances where signs may not be clear etc, but in that case take it up with the NCP desk people.
You clearly dont spend a lot of time in the Peoples Republic of Camden.They will only ticket you if you park where you shouldn't? E.g.
You've parked in a permit/loading bay - This is usually permit only to benefit the local residents or businesses who need to park. Read the signs next time!
You've not bothered to pay at all - Pikey.
You're parked with a fake disabled badge - Pikey.
You've parked on double yellows - Your fault.
You've overstayed your parking ticket - Next time buy one which will give you enough time and keep an eye on the watch!
Its not exactly rocket science. Sometimes I have stopped on double yellows briefly in the knowledge that if I get caught, then that is my own fault and to take it on the chin.
Obviously, there are some circumstances where signs may not be clear etc, but in that case take it up with the NCP desk people.
MKH9130 said:
I never understand the negativity towards traffic wardens?
They will only ticket you if you park where you shouldn't? E.g.
You've not bothered to pay at all - Pikey.
Its not exactly rocket science. Sometimes I have stopped on double yellows briefly in the knowledge that if I get caught, then that is my own fault and to take it on the chin.
Obviously, there are some circumstances where signs may not be clear etc, but in that case take it up with the NCP desk people.
What would you suggest I do when going to the bank......and don’t have change? They will only ticket you if you park where you shouldn't? E.g.
You've not bothered to pay at all - Pikey.
Its not exactly rocket science. Sometimes I have stopped on double yellows briefly in the knowledge that if I get caught, then that is my own fault and to take it on the chin.
Obviously, there are some circumstances where signs may not be clear etc, but in that case take it up with the NCP desk people.
can't take it up with the NCP people as the only parking near the bank is owned and run by my local council, who typically civic minded fashion went through the process of de-criminalising parking offences, then re-zoned all the local roads so you have no choice but to pay, but didn’t install machines that are capable of taking notes or credit cards....hence problem with change!
Liverpool City Council also went through the decriminalisation process and has gradually moved the ring of permit only parking further and further out of the city centre to the point that one of their largest sources of income is parking and its subsequent enforcement.
Like most things in life there is a need for flexibility as well as enforcing the rules.....especially when the rules are changed with the sole intention of raising revenue.
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