Too feel totally miserable about getting a parking ticket?

[ipanemagirl]

I was totally in the wrong but there is NOWHERE to park near the post office parcel collection place and I was on this yellow line for 4 minutes and they got me.
I was in the wrong but hell, can't they give you a few moments?
In the states at least there would be parking meters around. In this place there are three free bays for 20 mins (always full) and the whole street is permit holders only.

So so so depressing. £50 for 4 mins!!!! Feel irrationally down about it!

Could you not park legally and then walk to the Post Office?

Hi, I dont know much about much, BUT I work in a parking appeals office so thought i'd post.

Were you parked for 4 minutes or does that reflect the time the ticket shows that the parking attendant observed your car?

You can park on a standard single yellow line (for up to 20 mins) to make delivery/collection or to load/unload heavy or bulky items. If you can prove it, all the better.

Ive said it elsewhere before, but I ALWAYS advise to challenge a parking ticket. Even if its to ask the local auth to double check the validity of the ticket before you pay. If you still have to pay, you wont lose the chance to pay the lower rate if you write to them within 14 days.

So my advice is, write to them but ADMIT NOTHING in your letter. Honestly, youve got NOTHING to lose; most people dont bother cos they just pay and forget about it (yet internally stew forever and a day!)

there's no free parking for over a mile in any direction. Not ideal if you're in a hurry.

sounds like you should appeal "I was collecting a heavy item from the sorting office, there was no parking within a mile, I understood that parking for collection was allowed"

I'd appeal it.

Worth a shot.

I had to take DD1 to hospital for a paed appointment about her mobility delays.

No parking and no direct bus servicing the place. Was pregnant and had complications. She was too heavy for me to push in a buggy.

I parked and paid and displayed.

Only to find the residents bay sign tucked up under some ivy.

I appealed the ticket and won.

im miserable about having to pay over £3000 in parking tickets over the last couple of years

Thanks funkynora, I had no idea you could unload for 20 mins! Is that the case everywhere? We were literally just running in to pick up a parcel. I am so careful about paying to park, I always do, it's just there's nowhere to park there at all. I had my son with me and was in a rush, you know how it is.
I did twice query parking tickets successfully. One when the ticket had fallen on the floor (but it was clearly covering the time of the penalty) and another when I had failed to scratch out 'Friday' but had put 14th June. So mean! But they cancelled both.
I didn't think I'd have a leg to stand on here but thanks I will try.

One of the reasons that I am urging you to cancel the ticket is because:

1)a very large number are cancelled due to 'technicalities' - wrong details, insufficient info and other things that Joe Public would never know;

2)drivers dont necessarily know all the intricacies about the exceptions to parking regulations.

Firsly, please double check what it says on your ticket. Im surprised it was issued after 4 mins for a normal yellow line. The guidelines suggest a vehicle should be observed for at least 5 minutes.

HOWEVER, if the ticket says anything about a loading ban or restriction, it can be issued instantly. Id be curious to know which - cos im a nosy kinda gal - and the 20 minute thing I mentioned does apply anywhere.

HTH

fiodyl, youn sound like my dh, do you not read signs like him?

Go back and take a photo of the signs, too.

That's what I did.

nope i can read the signs fine

in the close where i live there are over 100 flats but only 14 parking spaces. so most everyone parks on the yellow lines which you can do between 6pm and 8am without getting a ticket

at 7.55am the traffic wardens turn up and wait. if u r lucky and theres a space fre u can run out and get in it b4 they give u a ticket. if there are no spaces and like me u have 2 small children and cant go and drive round the block 4 half an hour till theyve gone,u get a ticket.

It might be helpful to know that normal yellow lines wont necessarily have a sign on the lamppost.If it was for an additional restriction such as a loading ban/restriction, to be legal it MUST have an accompanying sign AND yellow blips (lines/stipes) on the kerb.

I really sympathise with you FIO. In boroughs that have national football clubs, this is a massive earner problem for Councils. They tend to issue many, many more parking permits than there are spaces and the inevitable happens. Residents park legitimately on yellow lines, but often get tickets when the restrictions come back into force. For residents it can be a hugely expensive nightmare. I the case you described, I just hope they dont tow cars away in your borough - many do.

so you are not a slacker like m,y dh then fio.

oh we do have a few tickets not got this way mainly dp driving down the bus lanes cos he was late 4 work, i dont mind paying these as much.

but the ones for parking outside our flat have cost us more than the car itself is worth. they do seem to target this area as they know there will always b cars parked on the lines and also it is not a well of area and ppl will not b able 2 pay their tickets straight away meaning they increase in price to £90

I really do sympathise with you situation. It can only be described as a nightmare - at best!

And the worst news is, with the new legislation that came into force two weeks ago, Councils now have the power to issue tickets to drivers for on-street offences by post! That means, until then, if a driver was able to drive off before the parking attendant attached the ticket to the vehicle or handed it to the driver, the ticket would (theoretically) be voided because it wouldnt have been legally served. That no longer applies, so drivers may now recive those ticket courtesy of the Royal Mail!

We have a traffic warden in the nearest town now, which hasn't gone down too well, but engage him in a bit of old chat and he just forgets to give you a ticket.

Tnog I am not surprised about your traffic warden! Oh to live in the country! I'll check exactly what my ticket says, I think it did say something about 'restrictions'

how did the few days away go?

how's everything?

we had a really good time. ds's cousin is 5 and they are like romeo and juliet reunited, it's adorable. we spent a lot of time on the beach and a lot of time walking on the prom and going to local museums and a bit of time at the fair. Cousins are a fine fine thing!

Did you find my tnog thread? I'll do another!