To not pay the fine because I was following my parental instincts?

[Experimenopause]

I have to pay a fine (correctly issued). I am planning to write a letter to the council tonight to explain why I was merely following my parental instincts and why they should contact my MP instead who can explain why it’s important to forgive people like me who mean no harm. AIBU?

I parked somewhere today where I could have been fined (I think)

I could definitely give a parental instincts reason. I hope I get a fine, I’d write the letter.

any fines issued when childcare exceptions were a mitigating factor will be revisited.

That’s going to open a whole new can of worms...

What they going to do? Issue a court summons for the courts that have almost completely ground to a halt?! They couldn’t do that if everyone took this approach, crack on I’d say...

you think he did wrong, but he believes what he did comes under exceptional circumstances and was right. Whereas you believe you did wrong
That’s the whole idea! So long as I believe it hard enough, I should be able to argue myself out of it. It won’t matter whether or not what I did was wrong actually.

So long as I believe it hard enough, I should be able to argue myself out of it. It won’t matter whether or not what I did was wrong actually.

But you don’t believe it. You said it was correctly issued.

Well, our council has a rather nifty ramp up system where the longer you don't pay, whilst making your pointless point in this case, they increase the fine and then send the bailiffs round.

I'm betting OP will blink first.

What they going to do? Issue a court summons for the courts that have almost completely ground to a halt

I would quite like to see them in a court on this. That will be some fun.

Missing something here hasn't Hancock accepted that any childcare issue related fines will be revisited now,

You should definitely do this.

I should be able to argue myself out of it.

Well if you can find some small print, then go for it. It doesn’t sound like you think you can though. DC has used some clause or whatever about exceptional circumstances and young children. If there’s some similar clause for what you’ve done then go for it.

But you don’t believe it. You said it was correctly issued.
It was issued correctly. But since not everyone is getting fined for even serious offenses anymore, I don’t believe my fine stands anymore. I now believe I don’t need to pay a fine for something this petty whilst others get away for far bigger stuff. What’s so special about them? They should be more accountable actually.

Missing something here hasn't Hancock accepted that any childcare issue related fines will be revisited now,
There will be a pretty long list of people who have been issued with fines but have no children.
I think Hancock is going to have hell on this, and rightly so too. This is downright discrimination.

I'm beginning to think this may actually be a genius plan by Cummings. Incense the idiots to such an extent they all decide to break lockdown and protest by fucking off to the beach or holding silly "this is our Poll Tax" marches note it isn't and actually nail on the second wave and the herd immunity theory he was so convinced about.

Wait. Are you JUST NOW realising that people in power are treated differently?

Without OP telling us what the miner, tiny, insignificant, OUTING thing is then I'm done as it's pointless.

I've worked for a council and remember the carefully honed letters full of clever sarcasm and witty entendre. One gentleman sent such a letter with every payment no matter how small and signed off aka John D Rockefeller. No-one cared or even laughed at them to be honest so I wouldn't bother as they don't get far beyond the letter opener.

Well OP - you can always demand to be fined because....(not sure why but, why not, if it amuses you). There's probably some previous Case Law somewhere that you can follow.

My own view is that DC really doesn't give a toss what we think, or what the Press make us think - he'll always be very employable and has a fine pick of life choices available.

He'll fall on his sword soon enough - meanwhile, isn''t there a Brewit deadline looming?

Or possibly we might be otherwise engaged to concern ourselves with such things?

I'm beginning to think this may actually be a genius plan by Cummings.Incense the idiots
Are you Cummings? Why are you calling others idiots?
Anyway, for your point to be valid (about me being an idiot), there will have to be a march of some sort that I then go to whilst breaking the lockdown. Since I am not planning to break any lockdown for a very long time, for neither marches or beaches, I am not an idiot.

But I do agree that this is one of their intentions probably. Then they can get away by saying ‘oh look, it’s them who brought about the second wave. Don’t point your finger at us’.

Wait. Are you JUST NOW realising that people in power are treated differently?

Johnson himself insisted that Britain was a democracy, slashlover. Are you suggesting that we should not be? Do you want to see the Rubicon crossed, again?

Cummings is not even legally elected. He is not a member of the ruling party. He is merely a favourite of someone who is. How far should that favouritism be allowed to stretch??

@slashlover my money is on putting her green bin out on black bin day or parking on the wrong side on street cleaning day.

As Griselda says the level of "so fucking what" that she will arouse is not going to get a blip on the Council's Giveashitometer.

You’re not making any sense at all. Maybe lay off the wine and have a sleep.

Maybe it's because it's late but I don't think I'm following you. Are you saying that if anyone anywhere can commit a crime and get away with it, it's open season on you also committing crimes OR are you saying that it's specifically because DC committed a crime that you now believe you can commit a crime? Is DC the determining factor or is it any high profile person? Richard (of Richard and Judy fame) was once alleged to have nicked a bottle of booze from a supermarket but charges were never pressed against him. Are you saying that anyone is now free to help themselves to bottles of booze from supermarkets without paying? I fear I'm totally missing your point somehow though.

No-one cared or even laughed at them to be honest so I wouldn't bother as they don't get far beyond the letter opener.

Well, I would quite like to see how the councils will deal with close to 14,000 fines, with many of those people arguing about the childcare vs no childcare point that Hancock is apparently about to bring out. We will see where this goes. So far, it’s heartening to see how Mumsnet is so overwhelmingly supportive of my point.

Are you suggesting that we should not be?

I'm suggesting there has always been inequality with people in power. From 'jobs for the boys' to deals done behind closed doors to 'convincing' newspapers not to write certain stories. It's wrong, of course it is, but OP is naïve is she thinks DC is the first time something like this has happened.

So far, it’s heartening to see how Mumsnet is so overwhelmingly supportive of my point.

You've taken it too far now OP. Now you've proved you're on glue.

Maybe lay off the wine and have a sleep

Are you sure you're on the right website?