Parking tickets : Do you still pay if they don't actually put the ticket on your car?

[RuthT]

I have just been in town and was 2 mins late back to my car. The Parking Attendant was literally printing the ticket out and we had a wierd conversation. I said i am back and she said I will write 'owner driven off'. so I said do I drive off then? After a bit of deliberation I did.

It was all amicable, she seemed not to know what to do and i was around long enough for her to hand it to me and although fed up I would have taken it.

Anyone know?

Ruth

[shrinkingsagpuss]

My understanding is that if they don't actually get to put the ticket ON the car, you can drive off and they can't fine you. I think the "issuing" of the ticket is the physical placing it on the car.

but do check it out!

[shrinkingsagpuss]

www.whatcar.com/news-article.aspx?NA=225123

aaahh... maybe not....

[RuthT]

Blast - I will have to wait and see. I was worried that it may incur a bigger fine. I guess that cancels out the bargains I have bought in the sale.

[streakybacon]

A few months back I inadvertently parked in a private car park without paying. There was no ticket on my car when I returned. A couple of weeks later I got the fixed penalty notice in the post, with a photo of my car parked there and another photo of the sign displaying charges and conditions. Tried to appeal but I still had to pay.

Interestingly, my friend who parked in the same car park on the same day DID get a notice on her windscreen, plus the follow up documents the same as I got. No consistency.

[itati]

I would be suspicious of her letting you drive off. Once a ticket is issued it can't be cancelled.

[ELR]

you do not have to pay unless ticket is attached to car you will get it in post but you can wright and inform them that they are wrong ect it is a technicality loop hole thing in the law dh has got off twice with this go on google and find a sample letter

[RuthT]

Oh now that is sounding more like it. Did google but could not find a letter.

[spicemonster]

No ELR, I don't think that's right anymore, afaik they changed the law.

[pippibluestocking]

Evil PA wrote out a ticket for my car when I was nearly 42 wks pregnant and was delayed by a much lengthier than expected CTG at the hospital. Saw him writing out the ticket and tried to run and begged him to stop, explaining my situation (which was pretty bloody obvious!). He told me with stoney expression that it was too late since he had written it (even though he hadn't put it on the car) - intended to appeal but baby was born the next day etc etc - labour probably induced by anger at this nasty man!

[RuthT]

To be honest my own daft fault so will pay but a bit miffed as someone stole my purse in Brent Cross on Sat - more updet by that!

[babygrand]

I read on the internet that you don't have to pay if they haven't either handed you the ticket or put it on your windscreen, ie if you drive off quick enough you're OK.

Soon after reading that, I had the opportunity of trying it out! Never received the notice, although the wardens had taken photos etc.

[shrinkingsagpuss]

I guess at the end of the day, if you are lucky you won't get anything, and if the law has changed as a couple of us have said, then you'll get a ticket through the post!

[theSuburbanDryad]

I have heard (although it's anecdotal) that they can't give you teh ticket if your engine's running, and I've avoided tickets like that. When you run to the car and switch the engine on they wander away looking disgruntled. Not much use to you this time, but might come in handy next time! Don't waste time arguing with them IME!

I would definitely appeal - emphasise that the PA didn't know what she was doing and that you didn't have the ticket put on your car. They won't have a photo of your car with the ticket on it which I think is necessary to make you pay IYSWIM.

[malovitt]

The rules changed on 31st March 2008.

The ticket no longer has to be placed on your car - you will get it through the post.

I regularly see wardens in London noting down registrations and tax disc numbers well before the meter time runs out, so that they can starting issuing a ticket the moment the time expires. It doesn't matter if you then drive off, they have all the details they need.

Try to move your tax disc so that the number is slightly obscured by your windscreen wiper - this delays them for a bit!

[kiltycoldbum]

its a different law for tickets given by a local council parking attendent and one run by a private firm for a car park. Council ones are hard to get out of and are covered by criminal law, private parking charges are covered by contract law.

ive just successfully had our ticket revoked by ukpc (it had got to £140) as they failed to place a ticket on our car and then accessed our private information from the dvla, an illegal move that can have a liscence to operate revoked by the dvla and the the parking operators union (or whatever the hell their called) theyre (ukpc) really pushy and try and bully and threaten you into paying and get the bailiffs writing to you. dont fall for it and dont let them cajoole you, hold your ground, keep your head and most often there is a way out.

[malovitt]

You have to arrive at your car during the minute the ticket expires.

There is no grace period anymore, at least in the London Borough of Camden.

[spicemonster]

Camden doesn't give you any grace period but I have found that if you're heavily pregnant and write to the Ham & High moaning about how mean they are, the ticket mysteriously gets revoked