On 4 Aug 2003 03:44:26 -0700, AOL's down again...
wrote: Hi folks.

On saturday last, I got a parking ticket in the delightful London
borough of Southwark. The ticket was issued by APCOA Parking for and
on behalf of the aforementioned London Borough. I was parked in a bay
marked "PERMIT HOLDERS ONLY MON-FRI 8am - 6pm". The ticket states that
the attendant believed I was "PARKED IN A PERMIT BAY WITHOUT
DISPLAYING A VALID PERMIT".

Clearly, as this happened on a saturday, I don't want to pay the £100
fine, nor do I want to pay the "reduced" £50 charge for paying within
14 days.

if you dispute the charge under no circumstances pay it now

Can anyone help me out with the correct (i.e. best) way to go about
this? Do I have to wait until after 28 days has elapsed and they send
me out the "NOTICE TO OWNER" and then put my case to "The Parking
Shop" in writing (including the photos I took with my mobile phone"?
Is there nothing I can or should do in the meantime?

write to either (a) chief exec of the council (b) parking manager
at the town hall. Do not write to the contractor that issued the
ticket; the parking appeals people can't help you, yet, either.
keep copies of your correspondence and their reply.

take a picture of the sign, and the position of the vehicle. this
might come in handy if you need to escalate the matter to an appeal.

feel free to claim costs for wasted time raising the appeal and taking
the pictures. keep the sum reasonable.

be very polite -- these people are used to receiving a torrent of
abuse from the public -- but firm, it works wonders.

--
u n d e r a c h i e v e r

And another thing - the sticky strip that I guess is supposed to be
used by the Parking Attendant to stick the thing to my windscreen
wasn't removed - it's semi transparent and I can read through it
"Officer please remove this tape".

I don't s'pose for a minute this makes any difference whatsoever but
I'd look a right plonker if it turned out to be some devastating legal
loophole!

Cheers folks,

John

"Mike Harrison" wrote in message
...
On 4 Aug 2003 23:25:12 GMT, u n d e r a c h i e v e r
wrote:

feel free to claim costs for wasted time raising the appeal and taking
the pictures. keep the sum reasonable.

Is there any realistic chance of getting costs awarded though ?

Not in this case.


Robin

Mike Harrison writes
feel free to claim costs for wasted time raising the appeal and taking
the pictures. keep the sum reasonable.

Is there any realistic chance of getting costs awarded though ?

Unlikely. The time and effort taken to make a phone call or write a
letter to the issuing authority will be less than the time and effort to
commence proceedings.

--
Dave

Steve Naïve wrote:
(AOL's down again...) wrote in
om:

And another thing - the sticky strip that I guess is supposed to be
used by the Parking Attendant to stick the thing to my windscreen
wasn't removed - it's semi transparent and I can read through it
"Officer please remove this tape".

I don't s'pose for a minute this makes any difference whatsoever but
I'd look a right plonker if it turned out to be some devastating
legal loophole!

To be valid the ticket must be either handed to the driver or fixed
to the vehicle. However, I suppose you must argue whether to place
it under the wiper was sufficient to 'fix' it to the vehicle.

Around Hammersmith Broadway there are signs on the lampposts stating:

"Parking Restrictions Enforced By Camera. Motorists committing parking
offences will receive a ticket by post"

I have always assumed these to be an empty and unenforceable threat.

Not entirely relevant but I thought I'd mention it.

"Cal Nihoni" wrote in message
...
Steve Naïve wrote:
(AOL's down again...) wrote in
om:

And another thing - the sticky strip that I guess is supposed to be
used by the Parking Attendant to stick the thing to my windscreen
wasn't removed - it's semi transparent and I can read through it
"Officer please remove this tape".

I don't s'pose for a minute this makes any difference whatsoever but
I'd look a right plonker if it turned out to be some devastating
legal loophole!

To be valid the ticket must be either handed to the driver or fixed
to the vehicle. However, I suppose you must argue whether to place
it under the wiper was sufficient to 'fix' it to the vehicle.

Around Hammersmith Broadway there are signs on the lampposts stating:

"Parking Restrictions Enforced By Camera. Motorists committing parking
offences will receive a ticket by post"

I have always assumed these to be an empty and unenforceable threat.

No, Hammersmith are piloting a scheme where parking contraventions detected
by CCTV are enforced by sending the PCN to the registered keeper.

Also, there are currently six boroughs enforcing bus lane regulations using CCTV cameras
(London Boroughs of Newham, Croydon, Hammersmith and Fulham, Ealing, Wandsworth
and Southwark). In addition, applications from the Corporation of London and the London
Borough of Lambeth have been approved and it is hoped that both boroughs will commence
enforcement in the near future.

The London Local Authorities Act 1996 gave the London boroughs powers to
use CCTV cameras to enforce bus lane regulations. The London Local Authorities
Act 2000 gave the London boroughs powers to enforce parking contraventions
using CCTV cameras.


Robin

"Robin Cox" wrote the following in:


Also, there are currently six boroughs enforcing bus lane
regulations using CCTV cameras (London Boroughs of Newham,
Croydon, Hammersmith and Fulham, Ealing, Wandsworth and
Southwark).

What about Tower Hamlets? I've seen lots of signs there saying that bus
lane enforcement cameras are in operation there.

--
message by Robin May, founder of International Boyism
"Would Inspector Sands please go to the Operations Room immediately."

Unofficially immune to hangovers.

"Robin May" wrote in message
...
"Robin Cox" wrote the following in:


Also, there are currently six boroughs enforcing bus lane
regulations using CCTV cameras (London Boroughs of Newham,
Croydon, Hammersmith and Fulham, Ealing, Wandsworth and
Southwark).

What about Tower Hamlets? I've seen lots of signs there saying that bus
lane enforcement cameras are in operation there.

Sorry, my information was out of date.

Current information from the ALG-TEC website:

=====
CCTV enforcement of bus lane regulations

4. There are currently seven boroughs enforcing bus lane regulations using
CCTV cameras (London Boroughs of Newham, Croydon, Hammersmith and
Fulham, Ealing, Wandsworth Southwark and Camden). In addition,
applications from the Corporation of London and the London Boroughs of
Lambeth, Richmond, Harrow, Enfield, Merton, Bexley, Haringey, Tower
Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Bromley and Hillingdon to commence CCTV
enforcement of bus lane regulations have been approved and it is hoped that
these boroughs will commence enforcement in the near future.

CCTV enforcement of parking regulations

5. CCTV camera enforcement of parking regulations commenced in August 2001
with a two borough demonstration project involving the London Boroughs of
Newham and Croydon. Based on the success of the pilot project, it was agreed
at the ALG TEC Executive Sub Committee on the 18 July 2002 (Item No 4), that
the demonstration project be brought to a close and that other boroughs be
invited to submit applications to the Committee to commence CCTV enforcement
of parking regulations. Applications from the London Boroughs of Ealing,
Hammersmith and Fulham, Southwark, Lambeth, Camden, Haringey, Merton,
Enfield, Tower Hamlets, Richmond and Hillingdon to commence CCTV
enforcement of parking regulations have been approved.

6. At present the London Boroughs of Newham, Croydon, Camden, Southwark
and Hammersmith and Fulham have commenced CCTV enforcement of parking
regulations.

Application to commence CCTV enforcement from the London Borough of
Wandsworth

7. An application to commence CCTV enforcement of parking regulations has
been received from the London Borough of Wandsworth. Approval has already
been given for the London Borough of Wandsworth to enforce bus lane regulations
using CCTV cameras. The London Borough of Wandsworth is proposing to
commence CCTV enforcement of parking regulations at three locations in the
borough from the end of 1 September 2003. Members are recommended to
approve the application from the London Borough of Wandsworth as it meets the
criteria set down by the Committee.
=====


Robin

On Tue, 5 Aug 2003 18:19:59 +0100, Dave
wrote: Mike Harrison
writes
feel free to claim costs for wasted time raising the appeal and taking
the pictures. keep the sum reasonable.

Is there any realistic chance of getting costs awarded though ?

Unlikely. The time and effort taken to make a phone call or write a
letter to the issuing authority will be less than the time and effort to
commence proceedings.

true, but the council may pay up anyway, especially if their is obvious
negligence on their part. failing that, you ask for costs when/if your
case goes to a parking appeal, or you can complain to the local gov.
ombudsman. it is always in your interests to get the claim in for costs
immediately, even if you don't bother following it through.

--
u n d e r a c h i e v e r

u n d e r a c h i e v e r
writes
Unlikely. The time and effort taken to make a phone call or write a
letter to the issuing authority will be less than the time and effort to
commence proceedings.

true, but the council may pay up anyway, especially if their is obvious
negligence on their part. failing that, you ask for costs when/if your
case goes to a parking appeal, or you can complain to the local gov.
ombudsman. it is always in your interests to get the claim in for costs
immediately, even if you don't bother following it through.

Yeah right.

It's people like who you drive up the cost of council tax. Wanting
compensation when a quick phone call will probably sort it all out.

--
Dave