My residents bay and parking fine

[rje]

Where I live all of the local on street parking is controlled by parking permits. So my caterham has a residents permit ( the right type for the bay etc)and is parked in the space outside my house (on the otherside of the road under the trees).

I am waiting for a purpose made cover with a window to allow the permit and tax disc to be seen with the cover on. At the moment to stop the bird shit getting the paint I have a normal cover (covers roof and screen only) so the permit can't be seen but the reg plates can and the warden have handheld computers.

Just been away and come back to find two tickets on it, stuffed into the nose cone area! I thought that the wardens were allowed to lift car / bike covers to check tax disc / permits - was I wrong?

The permit was not visbile as the cover was covering the screen, where the permit was stuck. But as cover was only over top of car easy to lift from side window and see permit.

Should I pay up or contest it. Also did was the warden correct to stick the ticket to the car paintwork / stuff into the gap between the nose cone and the bonnet?


Any views most welcome - should I contest or pay up?

Thanks

[crmcatee]

You've got a valid permit so why would you even bother paying. Contest.


I don't believe they are allowed to touch your vehicle let alone remove covers on it.

[bimsb6]

next time cover the plates .

[blackvanman]

The offence is failing to clearly display a permit, rather than failing to have a valid permit, so the tickets are probably valid.

However, in my experience as a resident's permit holder, the council may well allow an informal appeal. There is never anything to lose by appealing anyway.

Wardens are allowed to touch your car - a PCN is only valid if it is either handed to the driver or affixed to the vehicle - but I don't believe they are required to lift covers etc. in order to read permits.

[7db]

Good for you for parking the 7 on the street. Did the warden have to lift the cover to place the tickets?