Man beats charge for being OUTSIDE congestion zone
Man beats charge for being OUTSIDE congestion zone
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puggit

Original Poster:

49,233 posts

266 months

Monday 1st March 2004
quotequote all
www.thisislondon.co.uk/traffic/articles/9404890?source=EveningStandard

Lecturer beats C-charge fine
By David Williams, Evening Standard Motoring Editor
1 March 2004
A university lecturer has won a landmark victory against the congestion charge.

His case calls into question the photographic evidence used to enforce thousands of fines issued since the scheme began last year.

Dr Jon Thompson took action when he was fined for allegedly entering the central London zone without paying the £5 charge.

james_j

3,996 posts

273 months

Monday 1st March 2004
quotequote all
Wow, they seem to have the same mentality as clampers and those implementing revenue cameras...desperate for revenue.

What's the betting any drivers wrongly charged and who have paid up will have to be aware of this "error" and will have to fight for a refund. (A bit like the case a while ago whereby hundreds (maybe more) of incorrectly fined drivers (revenue camera error I think), who have to fight for refunds and points removal from their licences, rather than be offered a refund automatically.)

streaky

19,311 posts

267 months

Tuesday 2nd March 2004
quotequote all
The article said:
Dr Thompson's case has shocked motoring organisations, which today called for an investigation into how many drivers may have paid fines on the basis of misleading photographs. TfL promised to study the case to "see what lessons can be learned".


Like how to book more motorists outside the C-zone WITHOUT it being evident?

Streaky

hedders

24,460 posts

265 months

Tuesday 2nd March 2004
quotequote all
Surely he should now be suing them for his time/expense and stress.

Or do they just say "oops, sorry you got us! Here is your £5, now bugger off!?

pdV6

16,442 posts

279 months

Tuesday 2nd March 2004
quotequote all
TFL said:

As with all cases such as this, TfL accepts the adjudication and will take the results away for further analysis to see what lessons can be learned for future cases.

More training for van operators? - e.g. How to park such that there are no landmarks in the pictures they take?

puggit

Original Poster:

49,233 posts

266 months

Tuesday 2nd March 2004
quotequote all
What happened to the static cameras? Why is there a need for vans?

scuffham

20,887 posts

292 months

Tuesday 2nd March 2004
quotequote all
another example of the 'high quality' service delivered to the public sector from Capita...

Eliminator

762 posts

273 months

Tuesday 2nd March 2004
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Legal types:

Why is there not some charge like "attempting to pervert the course of justice" or "fraud" for someone claiming cash under threat when they know (the camera operator must have known he parked outside the zone, it is marked) that their claim is untrue.

Would the 1968 Theft Act not cover it?

jacko lah

3,297 posts

267 months

Tuesday 2nd March 2004
quotequote all
As an aside I have a Reg Number of a person that deserves a little hassle. Would anyone in london consider fitting said number to their Jag (or any car really) and driving around for a week so that the W**Ker in question gets a few nasty shocks ?

Oh I've found a flaw or 2 in my idea : It's impossible to have a number plate made up with out V5, It would be illegal (and being law abiding I'd like to point out that I was JOKING)

I wonder why my father in law had his number plates stolen ? It's just a perfctly ordinary red Astra he drives. And the likely hood of him driving 400 miles to the Smoke is very low.

steff

1,420 posts

281 months

Tuesday 2nd March 2004
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If you order number plates online from a company based outside england and wales you dont need documentation to get number plates.