Taped Plates - Fine dodge
Discussion
In the summer, I moved to Hackney and paid my residents parking permit. Almost immediately I started to notice 3-4 vehicles concealing their plates through various means, from gaffa-tape to leaning flimsy road signs against the front of their vehicles.
After a few weeks of seeing the same vehicles, doing the same thing, and based on the assumption that these guys are doing this to avoid parking fines, I began to grow a little resentful. They park in spots on my street for free, whilst I have paid £150 and have to park around the block because of them. The last straw was when one parked on a single lane cobbled street - completely blocking it.
So I decided to report the behaviour to the Council Parking Enforcement Team - I assumed that after couple of days, there would be tickets, or better yet, a towing!
3 months later, and 18 email complaints of the same vehicles, photos, live locations, VIN#s, etc - the council still haven't done a thing about this problem. Incredibly, on the evening I took the above picture, they sent a team of 2 enforcement officers who identified the vehicle, but apparently this crack team of professionals couldn't issue a ticket 'due to the obscured number plate' and for some reason they couldn't find the VIN..(it was clearly visible for anyone with eyes).
I am utterly baffled by how easy it is to avoid penalties in this way. And I can't understand the mentality of the PE Officers who are paid to catch these guys. If I have a visitor slow below 5mph on my street, I can hear the parking ticket being printed..
I believe parked cars are generally the council's issue, and not a police matter. But the council have proven to be more than useless. Is there anything else I can do? Do these guys avoid congestion zone charges like this too?
After a few weeks of seeing the same vehicles, doing the same thing, and based on the assumption that these guys are doing this to avoid parking fines, I began to grow a little resentful. They park in spots on my street for free, whilst I have paid £150 and have to park around the block because of them. The last straw was when one parked on a single lane cobbled street - completely blocking it.
So I decided to report the behaviour to the Council Parking Enforcement Team - I assumed that after couple of days, there would be tickets, or better yet, a towing!
3 months later, and 18 email complaints of the same vehicles, photos, live locations, VIN#s, etc - the council still haven't done a thing about this problem. Incredibly, on the evening I took the above picture, they sent a team of 2 enforcement officers who identified the vehicle, but apparently this crack team of professionals couldn't issue a ticket 'due to the obscured number plate' and for some reason they couldn't find the VIN..(it was clearly visible for anyone with eyes).
I am utterly baffled by how easy it is to avoid penalties in this way. And I can't understand the mentality of the PE Officers who are paid to catch these guys. If I have a visitor slow below 5mph on my street, I can hear the parking ticket being printed..
I believe parked cars are generally the council's issue, and not a police matter. But the council have proven to be more than useless. Is there anything else I can do? Do these guys avoid congestion zone charges like this too?
esuuv said:
Surely the "wind" or a "fox" or similar could "accidentally" knock those signs over a few times.......
Those foxes can be pretty sly...I suspect there's some sort of health and safety or damage liability issue preventing them from physically removing sticky tape, or moving a very light (I imagine!) street sign. Funny how they're fine with lifting windscreen wipers and applying adhesive envelopes to a vehicle though..
It becomes tricky when you need a 'windy day' AND to drag the enforcement officers out AND to ensure the bumbling idiots walk down the right street..
Honestly, it almost feels like there may be some corruption going on here... they've found so many reasons not to find the vehicles and issue a ticket.
Panamax said:
I don't understand. Is "enforcement" done by the Council driving up and down with ANPR equipment at bumper level to check the parked vehicles?
I assume that's what the illegal parkers expect.Islington (affluent council next door), definitely have ANPR vans driving around.
I suspect Hackney couldn't afford a van, relying instead on a lazy old bugger with a visual impairment.
Funny how effective this ploy is against man and machine..
As the council appear to be doing very little I’d escalate it to elected members, expressing your frustration in a firm (but polite) manner. From a quick glance at Hackney’s website it appears that the mayor, Philip Glanville, has responsibility for ‘customer services and complaints’ amongst other things, and Councillor Mete Coban’s portfolio includes ‘transport and public realm’, so I’d start with them; write to or email both.
Alternatively, you could contact the senior officer with overall responsibility for parking, who appears to be
Ajman Ali, Group Director, Neighbourhoods and Housing. If your efforts to get a satisfactory resolution fail, pursue a formal complaint (the council will have a complaints procedure), and if this is unsuccessful your final resort would be the Local Government Ombudsman.
Good luck
Alternatively, you could contact the senior officer with overall responsibility for parking, who appears to be
Ajman Ali, Group Director, Neighbourhoods and Housing. If your efforts to get a satisfactory resolution fail, pursue a formal complaint (the council will have a complaints procedure), and if this is unsuccessful your final resort would be the Local Government Ombudsman.
Good luck
Escort3500 said:
As the council appear to be doing very little I’d escalate it to elected members, expressing your frustration in a firm (but polite) manner. From a quick glance at Hackney’s website it appears that the mayor, Philip Glanville, has responsibility for ‘customer services and complaints’ amongst other things, and Councillor Mete Coban’s portfolio includes ‘transport and public realm’, so I’d start with them; write to or email both.
Alternatively, you could contact the senior officer with overall responsibility for parking, who appears to be
Ajman Ali, Group Director, Neighbourhoods and Housing. If your efforts to get a satisfactory resolution fail, pursue a formal complaint (the council will have a complaints procedure), and if this is unsuccessful your final resort would be the Local Government Ombudsman.
Good luck
I would also copy in the local councillors (all parties) as they will probably be keen to get in on this as it will be good publicity for them.Alternatively, you could contact the senior officer with overall responsibility for parking, who appears to be
Ajman Ali, Group Director, Neighbourhoods and Housing. If your efforts to get a satisfactory resolution fail, pursue a formal complaint (the council will have a complaints procedure), and if this is unsuccessful your final resort would be the Local Government Ombudsman.
Good luck
"Cllr. Fred Bloggs (Councilist Party) working hard for residents to prevent abuse of residents parking"
over_the_hill said:
Escort3500 said:
As the council appear to be doing very little I’d escalate it to elected members, expressing your frustration in a firm (but polite) manner. From a quick glance at Hackney’s website it appears that the mayor, Philip Glanville, has responsibility for ‘customer services and complaints’ amongst other things, and Councillor Mete Coban’s portfolio includes ‘transport and public realm’, so I’d start with them; write to or email both.
Alternatively, you could contact the senior officer with overall responsibility for parking, who appears to be
Ajman Ali, Group Director, Neighbourhoods and Housing. If your efforts to get a satisfactory resolution fail, pursue a formal complaint (the council will have a complaints procedure), and if this is unsuccessful your final resort would be the Local Government Ombudsman.
Good luck
I would also copy in the local councillors (all parties) as they will probably be keen to get in on this as it will be good publicity for them.Alternatively, you could contact the senior officer with overall responsibility for parking, who appears to be
Ajman Ali, Group Director, Neighbourhoods and Housing. If your efforts to get a satisfactory resolution fail, pursue a formal complaint (the council will have a complaints procedure), and if this is unsuccessful your final resort would be the Local Government Ombudsman.
Good luck
"Cllr. Fred Bloggs (Councilist Party) working hard for residents to prevent abuse of residents parking"
Escort3500 said:
As the council appear to be doing very little I’d escalate it to elected members, expressing your frustration in a firm (but polite) manner. From a quick glance at Hackney’s website it appears that the mayor, Philip Glanville, has responsibility for ‘customer services and complaints’ amongst other things, and Councillor Mete Coban’s portfolio includes ‘transport and public realm’, so I’d start with them; write to or email both.
Alternatively, you could contact the senior officer with overall responsibility for parking, who appears to be
Ajman Ali, Group Director, Neighbourhoods and Housing. If your efforts to get a satisfactory resolution fail, pursue a formal complaint (the council will have a complaints procedure), and if this is unsuccessful your final resort would be the Local Government Ombudsman.
Good luck
That's an answer and a half! Thanks!Alternatively, you could contact the senior officer with overall responsibility for parking, who appears to be
Ajman Ali, Group Director, Neighbourhoods and Housing. If your efforts to get a satisfactory resolution fail, pursue a formal complaint (the council will have a complaints procedure), and if this is unsuccessful your final resort would be the Local Government Ombudsman.
Good luck
sociopath said:
I think he's probably busy driving round trying to find somewhere to park
It's not as bad as the People's Republic of Islington, but anyone using street parking in Hackney has my sympathy. Thankfully I have off street parking for 5 cars, so this doesn't bother me. No doubt they'll find a way of taxing that in the future. Engaging with the council? Whatever. An organisation of morons, staffed by morons. Good luck with that.
Our local councillor is brilliant, and takes up the cudgels on our behalf on almost anything.
He does weekly walks round his area to meet people and check on problems.
And the puts the issues and resolutions on Facebook for all to see, and advises on who to contact on things that aren't in his remit.
Ok, we don't live in London, but that shouldn't make any difference.
But then he understands serving the public - he served in Afghanistan and is missing limbs as a result.
So I second speaking directly to your local elected representative.
He does weekly walks round his area to meet people and check on problems.
And the puts the issues and resolutions on Facebook for all to see, and advises on who to contact on things that aren't in his remit.
Ok, we don't live in London, but that shouldn't make any difference.
But then he understands serving the public - he served in Afghanistan and is missing limbs as a result.
So I second speaking directly to your local elected representative.
rallycross said:
Quite simply haven’t you got anything better to be doing than that?
Easy for you to say but when you’re living in a place with limited parking opportunities it can become incredibly annoying. Besides, we (I’m in Islington) pay a fair whack to park on the street and it’s simply not fair if people abuse the system. OP, good luck with this. I hope you get a result.
https://www.bikerandbike.co.uk/parking-covering-motorbikes-number-plate/ said:
Technically, to cover your number plate when it is parked on a public road is an offence under S43(1) of Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994.
However, only a Police Officer or a Controlled [by the Police] Traffic Warden can issue a Fixed Penalty Notice for that offence. Obviously, they would need to remove the cover to discover the vehicle’s registration number to issue the notice to.
Parking attendants don’t have that power because they are employed by the Local Authority, not the police.
Quoted selectively - there is a lot there which appears well researched....However, only a Police Officer or a Controlled [by the Police] Traffic Warden can issue a Fixed Penalty Notice for that offence. Obviously, they would need to remove the cover to discover the vehicle’s registration number to issue the notice to.
Parking attendants don’t have that power because they are employed by the Local Authority, not the police.
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