To think that the level of parking fines is extortionate?

[Dolcelatte]

My friend who is in her 60s and disabled - she has recently had two lots of surgery and walks with the aid of a walking stick - has called round this afternoon very upset. She has a disabled parking sticker but forgot to display it in the windscreen because she was worried and stressed about other matters.

Fair enough, she accepts she was at fault, but she has a parking ticket and a fine of £40 - provided she pays immediately. She is on minimum wage so that is a whole day's work, just to park in a place which would have cost 80p if she had bought a ticket (it's a council car park).

AIBU to consider that this level of charges is absolutely scandalous and indefensible - surely £10 -£20 is more than appropriate.

I'd try to appeal it first - but quickly - and explain she has a disabled parking sticker but forgot to display it.

I got a parking ticket at the weekend (own fault) and it's £50, or £25 if you pay within 2 weeks.

If she appeals to the council they may waive the charge. I can see why the fine is high because a lot of people would risk a fine of £10-20.

What Beamur said.

WRT parking fines, they have to hurt financially or people will take the piss.

She should be able to appeal it as long as she goes to the council and explains the situation.

I agree it's high, but it's supposed to be a deterrent - like scurryfunge said, the smaller the amount, the more people will risk it.

I don't think £10-£20 would be much of a deterrent for most people tbh but I would strongly advise your friend to appeal the ticket. You can do this by email and/or letter and here in Sheffield at least, they suspend payment until you have a judgment.

Clearly she is entitled to 80p parking and hence is being fined for something she was entitled to virtually free anyway. An appeal to the council may well work.

On the whole though parking fines are necessary to disuade illegal parking.

As others have said, she should appeal against it (with a copy of the front and back of her Blue Badge) within 14 days of the date that she received the Penalty (which I presume was today). If it's the first time she's appealed on these grounds ie that she forgot to display the Badge, then the Council will possibly cancel it.

Just for information, the levels of Fines are set by the Secretary of State, London Councils and The Mayor (in London). As scurry said, if Fines were not that high, many people would simply park and take a risk.

In some countries, there is not much of a problem with theft, as the penalty of an amputated limb is a useful deterrent. It doesn't make it a proportionate or fair penalty for the offence.

The thing is, many councils will not cancel a parking ticket if the driver simply 'forgot' to display a blue badge. They will usually 'waive and warn' if they are informed that the badge 'must have fallen', somehow - wind when closing door is common favourite.

Now, im of course not suggesting that you or your friend lie, no no, of course not , but the council will make a decision based on the info they are given.

The 'waive and warn' only usually applies in case of first occurrences. Many councils wont apply this discretion if driver/keeper confirms that blue badge was not there.

i lurk loads and post little, but somehow parking threads seem to yank me off my lurking bench. good luck to your friend.

I got a parking ticket in London because I forgot to display the dial thingy that comes with a blue badge. The badge was out but we don't get dials here in Sweden so I just forgot. I wrote to the council and explained and they cancelled the ticket.

Get her to appeal - I hadn't noticed mine had gone out of date, thay asked for a photocopy of my new badge and quashed the fine.

They are really very good with genuine cases.