Parking fine excitement
Discussion
So yesterday Westminster council really pulled out the stops and put an illegible parkig suspension up half way through the day, then ticketed everyone in the bay. My appeal was heartfelt and exciting!
Dear Sir/Madam,
Yesterday I and every other person parked in the Russell Street since the morning, much to our surprise – received a parking ticket for an apparent contravention, regarding a notice which, if you stared at it for long enough, stated the bay was closed from the 3rd to the 6th of November.
The problem is - as far as I and another rider I spoke to yesterday evening at the bay - there was no sign posted up in the morning of the 5th when we arrived (9.30am). It also seems apparent that no other biker was aware of this because the bay was packed full to the brim with bikes, all decorated with your PCNs. I’m quite sure that you have seen that usually, when a bay is properly suspended, there are very few bikes in it because people have SEEN the sign.
I can only assume that I was right in my recollection that there was no sign there this morning, but if we take the assumption that I perhaps missed the sign, I am still somewhat perplexed as I parked in the same bay on the 3rd of November all day (the first day the bay was apparently suspended) and neither was there a sign in the morning or the evening that day and I did not receive one of your cash grabbing PCN. On the 4th I passed the bay in the morning as it was full. Again, safe to assume that perhaps the sign had STILL not been put up.
You’d have thought that as your staff does such a sterling job of collecting money that this would be the only issue with the PCN. But wait! There’s more! If you observe the pictures, you will see that this relatively long bay (I can’t recall the length, but it’s long - maybe you have it on your databases) only has ONE of these warning signs stating bay suspension, at the very end of it.
It would again be safe to assume that it is unreasonable to expect people parking at the other end of the bay to even notice this sign, or the relevance of it. It seems you ran out of signs, as there is actually a signpost at the other end of the bay which would have made a wonderful mounting point for your lets-post-this-2-days-late notice. I’m quite sure there are a number of by-laws requiring clear signage.
Oh but there’s more! If you observe the photo I have posted, you will also note that the sign has been written by a 5 year old in big fat marker so it is actually ILLEGIBLE unless you are right next to it. I’m sure that being a government agency you don’t need me to explain accessibility laws and legibility laws which require signs to be read by people of varying intellectual ability and eyesight issues. This sign was only really readable by people with 20/20 vision and Superman.
I would appreciate proof that this was posted before 9.30am on the 5th November, along with an explanation for the appallingly unreadable writing on the sign, the lack of signs at both ends of a long bay, and perhaps a reason why no one else seemed to notice this sign this day.
I would also like an explanation why - unlike other notices warning of suspension in the area - this was not posted in advance to warn bikers of the suspension. You must appreciate that at the moment due to many roads being closed in the area, it is increasingly hard to park and putting obscure signs up ‘on the day’ does not help matters one bit, nor as far as I am aware, does it follow suspension rules.
You will not be receiving any monies from me with regards to this ticket and your utter contempt shown for the commuters who work at companies who pay your departments wages with their earnings, parking permit fees and business tax is absolutely appalling.
Furthermore, any further correspondence from myself will be invoiced and billed at a charge of £45 per hour.
Kind Regards
Dear Sir/Madam,
Yesterday I and every other person parked in the Russell Street since the morning, much to our surprise – received a parking ticket for an apparent contravention, regarding a notice which, if you stared at it for long enough, stated the bay was closed from the 3rd to the 6th of November.
The problem is - as far as I and another rider I spoke to yesterday evening at the bay - there was no sign posted up in the morning of the 5th when we arrived (9.30am). It also seems apparent that no other biker was aware of this because the bay was packed full to the brim with bikes, all decorated with your PCNs. I’m quite sure that you have seen that usually, when a bay is properly suspended, there are very few bikes in it because people have SEEN the sign.
I can only assume that I was right in my recollection that there was no sign there this morning, but if we take the assumption that I perhaps missed the sign, I am still somewhat perplexed as I parked in the same bay on the 3rd of November all day (the first day the bay was apparently suspended) and neither was there a sign in the morning or the evening that day and I did not receive one of your cash grabbing PCN. On the 4th I passed the bay in the morning as it was full. Again, safe to assume that perhaps the sign had STILL not been put up.
You’d have thought that as your staff does such a sterling job of collecting money that this would be the only issue with the PCN. But wait! There’s more! If you observe the pictures, you will see that this relatively long bay (I can’t recall the length, but it’s long - maybe you have it on your databases) only has ONE of these warning signs stating bay suspension, at the very end of it.
It would again be safe to assume that it is unreasonable to expect people parking at the other end of the bay to even notice this sign, or the relevance of it. It seems you ran out of signs, as there is actually a signpost at the other end of the bay which would have made a wonderful mounting point for your lets-post-this-2-days-late notice. I’m quite sure there are a number of by-laws requiring clear signage.
Oh but there’s more! If you observe the photo I have posted, you will also note that the sign has been written by a 5 year old in big fat marker so it is actually ILLEGIBLE unless you are right next to it. I’m sure that being a government agency you don’t need me to explain accessibility laws and legibility laws which require signs to be read by people of varying intellectual ability and eyesight issues. This sign was only really readable by people with 20/20 vision and Superman.
I would appreciate proof that this was posted before 9.30am on the 5th November, along with an explanation for the appallingly unreadable writing on the sign, the lack of signs at both ends of a long bay, and perhaps a reason why no one else seemed to notice this sign this day.
I would also like an explanation why - unlike other notices warning of suspension in the area - this was not posted in advance to warn bikers of the suspension. You must appreciate that at the moment due to many roads being closed in the area, it is increasingly hard to park and putting obscure signs up ‘on the day’ does not help matters one bit, nor as far as I am aware, does it follow suspension rules.
You will not be receiving any monies from me with regards to this ticket and your utter contempt shown for the commuters who work at companies who pay your departments wages with their earnings, parking permit fees and business tax is absolutely appalling.
Furthermore, any further correspondence from myself will be invoiced and billed at a charge of £45 per hour.
Kind Regards
This sort of thing makes me rage. Be sure to report back on how this letter writing technique goes down with the halfwits at city hall.
My "polite and concise" method has got me off 4/5 parking fines and 2/2 bus lane infringements, but I wish you all the best with this. If it works, your letter will be far more satisfying!
My "polite and concise" method has got me off 4/5 parking fines and 2/2 bus lane infringements, but I wish you all the best with this. If it works, your letter will be far more satisfying!
I got a PCN last year for allegedly parking in a school zone, and was photographed by a smart car parked at the opposite end of the zone.
To set the scene, Mitzy and I had just got back from holiday. A small parking space was left next to the SZ. I backed into it as tight as I could, and with the engine running got out to see if I was over the lines. I wasn't happy with the wheels clear of the zone but the bonnet overhanging, got in anf found somewhere else to park.
The cheeky bastid (coward) took the photo while I was still backing up 'cos the photo showed me looking over my shoulder while revesing.
I explained this in my appeal and it was rejected. at the time I was really busy at work and didn't have the time to get involved, so I laid on my back and played dead.
This is the letter that accompanied the payment. Needless to say, I didn't get a reply
Re: Notice of Rejection
XL80362870
Thank you for your much delayed reply.
Needless to say I am disappointed that my appeal has been rejected, and in light of the information I supplied, can only come to the conclusion that the appeal was dealt with in the same inept manner that the ticket was originally distributed.
You will find a cheque for £40enclosed with this letter in payment of the ‘fine’, however, this in no way declares my guilt for this offence. The cheque should be seen more as a donation to Bexley Council as you obviously need it to re-educate your parking officers on how to administer parking restriction. The tactics shown in this instance are despicable.
As an aside, you will find that the information in the box adjacent my particulars contradict those on the reverse side of the letter. As shown quite clearly in the photo that accompanied the PCN, there are no bus stops outside the school. Had I employed the services of a solicitor, that fact alone would have relieved me of the penalty.
Yours sincerely
To set the scene, Mitzy and I had just got back from holiday. A small parking space was left next to the SZ. I backed into it as tight as I could, and with the engine running got out to see if I was over the lines. I wasn't happy with the wheels clear of the zone but the bonnet overhanging, got in anf found somewhere else to park.
The cheeky bastid (coward) took the photo while I was still backing up 'cos the photo showed me looking over my shoulder while revesing.
I explained this in my appeal and it was rejected. at the time I was really busy at work and didn't have the time to get involved, so I laid on my back and played dead.
This is the letter that accompanied the payment. Needless to say, I didn't get a reply
Re: Notice of Rejection
XL80362870
Thank you for your much delayed reply.
Needless to say I am disappointed that my appeal has been rejected, and in light of the information I supplied, can only come to the conclusion that the appeal was dealt with in the same inept manner that the ticket was originally distributed.
You will find a cheque for £40enclosed with this letter in payment of the ‘fine’, however, this in no way declares my guilt for this offence. The cheque should be seen more as a donation to Bexley Council as you obviously need it to re-educate your parking officers on how to administer parking restriction. The tactics shown in this instance are despicable.
As an aside, you will find that the information in the box adjacent my particulars contradict those on the reverse side of the letter. As shown quite clearly in the photo that accompanied the PCN, there are no bus stops outside the school. Had I employed the services of a solicitor, that fact alone would have relieved me of the penalty.
Yours sincerely
I got ticketed near Liverpool St a couple of months back. I've been parking in the same street on a Sundat for 4 years, and there is no parking charge on Sundays, so of course I didn't wander half a mile down the street looking for the payment meter just in case things had changed, as did one of the other cars parked there.
Was only gone 10 mins but got a ticket. It transpired that they had "suspended" the bay, but had put the notice at least 8 feet off the ground and it was less than A4 sized. I imagine they'd been merrily collecting £60 from all the people dropping off and collecting from the station all day long.
Contested it but simply got a PFO back.
I looked around for the t
t issuing the tickets but he was obviously well hidden; just as well, in hindsight, as I'm not clear what the penalty is for gobbing in their face.
Was only gone 10 mins but got a ticket. It transpired that they had "suspended" the bay, but had put the notice at least 8 feet off the ground and it was less than A4 sized. I imagine they'd been merrily collecting £60 from all the people dropping off and collecting from the station all day long.
Contested it but simply got a PFO back.
I looked around for the t
t issuing the tickets but he was obviously well hidden; just as well, in hindsight, as I'm not clear what the penalty is for gobbing in their face.
Well done!
I had a friend (a car driver).
Who parked in a disabled space in Bournemouth somewhere.
He was there for about 10minutes & got ticketed, he said he only parked there because there was about 15 more bays & they were all empty.
Regardless, he should'nt have parked there & accepted that.
Not being the most organised person he got sent a summons for double the penalty price for not paying up within the allotted time.
He also got a court summons for not paying.
I think the total was about £400 come the end of it.
Anyway he was at uni so didnt get any of these letters etc as they were all sent to his dad, who was doing some massive sailing race & was away for months.
Come the end of it they gave up and wrote off the fee!
Strange!
I had a friend (a car driver).
Who parked in a disabled space in Bournemouth somewhere.
He was there for about 10minutes & got ticketed, he said he only parked there because there was about 15 more bays & they were all empty.
Regardless, he should'nt have parked there & accepted that.
Not being the most organised person he got sent a summons for double the penalty price for not paying up within the allotted time.
He also got a court summons for not paying.
I think the total was about £400 come the end of it.
Anyway he was at uni so didnt get any of these letters etc as they were all sent to his dad, who was doing some massive sailing race & was away for months.
Come the end of it they gave up and wrote off the fee!
Strange!
Excellent job on your part. Well done, these councils are scum. If it were me, I would now write a letter to the council suggesting that they drop the charges for all the other bikers that were similarly ticketed, as this would be the only honest course of action. I would also get the story published in the local paper. These councils are a huge part of what is wrong with this country these days.
I agree with Atom about sending your local rag an email about the incident. I wonder how many of those ticketed riders will have just stumped up the £60?
Someone or something needs to be shamed for the absolute fraud going on here. I wonder if the council got back in touch with all the other fined riders and recompensated them? None I reckon.
Someone or something needs to be shamed for the absolute fraud going on here. I wonder if the council got back in touch with all the other fined riders and recompensated them? None I reckon.
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