You may have read my blog about my mallet finger ... but that wasn't the only mishap on Wednesday. Early in the morning, after a coffee with Katy, I returned to the car park to find I'd been given a ticket [or a Penalty Charge Notice to give it the proper title]. I had 'Parked beyond the bay markings'.
I don't lose my temper often but I'd parked in the same spot many times before and there had never been a problem.
After taking Katy home I stomped into the District Council office and slapped the ticket on the counter. I explained that I was a reasonable man but this [the ticket] was the limit. I did really well though ~ I didn't swear.
The guy I needed to speak to was out but to cut a long story short I met him yesterday at the bay ... and he said the ticket wasn't enforceable anyway because the bay wasn't defined clearly enough.
I had to challenge the Penalty Charge Notice though [which I did online] so that he can comment and have it discharged.
My challenge to the PCN read : "I do not believe I had parked beyond the bay markings. I have parked in this particular spot many times since the car park opened and never had a PCN before."
How many motorists would have paid up though. Still, I'd better shut up, the Penalty Charge Notice hasn't been discharged yet.
Here's my car in the bay ... or is it ?
I had to challenge the Penalty Charge Notice though [which I did online] so that he can comment and have it discharged.
My challenge to the PCN read : "I do not believe I had parked beyond the bay markings. I have parked in this particular spot many times since the car park opened and never had a PCN before."
How many motorists would have paid up though. Still, I'd better shut up, the Penalty Charge Notice hasn't been discharged yet.
Here's my car in the bay ... or is it ?
That is obviously a Jobs-worth giving you a ticket,I don't see anything wrong with your parking.Hope you get it sorted Charlie.Ann
ReplyDeleteThank you Ann ... I am still awaiting developments.
DeleteThere is only a 'clearly defined marking' on one side of that bay (between your car and the Range Rover). There does not appear to be a marking on the other side. Therefore your case is pretty strong, in my opinion. The drainage grating can in no way be considered a 'bay marking'. BTW, maybe a complaint to the council about the litter might be in order, too.
ReplyDeleteI agree about the litter ~ once the ticket situation is cleared I might take a photo of the litter and send it to DDDC ...
DeleteI'd have taken that bay to have been an extra wide one for those big buses that people insist on travelling through town in! Well done you for challenging it. As you say, so many people would have just paid up quietly. Oh, and Mitchy has a point about the litter!
ReplyDeleteYes, the litter is bad ... as for the ticket normally I would probably have paid up but not now.
DeleteYes maybe the ticket writer should have a litter-stick with him to keep him occupied and useful when not writing tickets, if he has to find fault with wee,tiny matters.
ReplyDeleteThe 'Enforcement Officer' was one of the fair sex ... a woman who had been parking her car nearby came over and told me that she had watched the female traffic warden [as I call them] putting the ticket on my windscreen. She also told me of a website where all the rules and regulations are ...
DeleteI got a ticket just like that at my son's University Apartment Parking Lot. This Barney Fife gave me a ticket that cost me $42. My tire was straddling the line, not over it. I did not fight it because I live out of town. No wonder cops in California are called Pigs..Oink Oink Oink! I'm glad you were able to resolve your bogus ticket.
ReplyDeleteI had to look up what or who Barney Fife was. According to Wikipedia "Calling a police officer or authority figure "Barney Fife" has become an American slang term for gross ineptitude or overzealousness.".
DeleteI am still awaiting a ruling as regards the ticket. It may, of course, just fizzle out and I will hear nothing.
Well done you! It's clearly a parking bay!!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately the 'Traffic Enforcement Officer' wasn't there for me to talk to whilst she was planting the ticket on my windscreen. It's probably a good job.
DeleteI had a similar ticket in Cumberland when I was up there for squeezing into a gap where one driver had parked over the line. In consequence I was also over the next line. And furious! But they never cashed my cheque I'm pleased to say, after they read my letter.
ReplyDeleteI have today heard that my ticket has been waived ... but only after I spoke to them again. I had a letter a few days ago saying that my appeal had been chucked out ~ despite what the District Council officer had told me the ticket "was unenforceable". Ah well, all's well that ends well.
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