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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

In thinking my car is perfectly adequately parked and I shouldn't get tickets?

36 replies

oxcat1 · 08/01/2009 12:34

Now I know that this is slightly off topic as far as Steve's 'specialist subject' goes, but perhaps somebody else will know the answer to this...

We don't have any parking, and instead get a residents parking permit for on-street parking in nearby roads. When i went to the car today, I discovered that it had 3 parking tickets on, representing every day since I last parked it, and £150 of fines!

Does anybody know how much of a car needs to be inside a parking bay in order for it to 'count'? Basically the fines are because i've apparently overstayed my permitted time in a free one hour slot (to the right of the photo), but I'm sure the car ought to count as being in the residents' permit parking area, to the left of the signpost. Apologies that the photo is so out of focus - it required a long shutter speed and of course the wobbles rendered it a little unsteady.

I would have thought that more than enough of the car was in the residents' area (the left of the sign), but there probably is legislation on this, such as that both sets of wheels need to be over, or something. There are markings on the road but they don't appear to correspond to the signs at all, as the demarcation doesn't align with the roadsign.

Does anybody have any ideas on this? Obviously I'm trying desperately to save myself £150 (!!), but also I really do think sufficient car is parked legally for it to count.

img231.imageshack.us/img231/6541/p1070001vq8.jpg

p.s. The other signs are just warning signs on an electricity station - it is the post-mounted sign that I'm worrying about.

OP posts:
Original poster
oxcat1 · 08/01/2009 12:34

Apologies - first line was still in place from a previous post! please ignore!

OP posts:
BouncingTurtle · 08/01/2009 12:37

Sorry I really cannot tell from that picture!

I guess different councils have different rules though as where my uncle lives it is all residents parking but the bays are so narrow that only a motorbike wouldn't exceed the width!

pooka · 08/01/2009 12:39

So basically you have just the bonnet and first set of wheels in the legitimate residents' bay? The rest of the car is in the 1hour bay?

Sorry but the fines would stand IMO. You need to have all wheels of the car within the bay markings. If your rear wheels were on the line, then there may be some leeway. But to park like that you are in the 1 hour bay, preventing anyone else from legitimately using that bay because they would themselves most likely be over the lines.

But I may be totally misreading the photo.

Buda · 08/01/2009 12:42

Sorry but it seems to me like you are way out of the bay. Are your front wheels in the 1 hour bay?

eidsvold · 08/01/2009 12:47

sorry but that is too far out of the bay to be considered parked appropriately.

lisad123 · 08/01/2009 12:50

the way I saw it, was your front wheels are in resi bays but rest is on one hour parking, so yes ityabu, and should learn to park better
£150 seems a little high though!

mayorquimby · 08/01/2009 12:55

can only half tell from the photo. but if enough of your car was in the bay behind you to make it unusable then yabu (actuallynany of your car would probably render a bay unusable)

spicemonster · 08/01/2009 12:58

As others have said, the wheels have to be inside the box, it's not about the how much of the car is in the right place.

mayorquimby · 08/01/2009 13:09

oh and just to say yanbu in thinking that if your car is adequately parked you should not get tickets. (just that yours was not adequately parked sorry couldn't help myself)

ClareVoiant · 08/01/2009 13:13

could you claim it was snowing when you parked and couldnt see the lines on the road?

babymt · 08/01/2009 13:25

Sorry but i agree that if your wheels are in another parking bay then you are screwed. Both sets of wheels need to be in the parking bay and imo the entire part of wheel that touches the road needs to be inside the lines. So everything not touching the road overhanging is fine if thats hanging over into another parking zone. Also counts for double yellows etc. You should think yourself lucky you weren't parked with your wheels on a red line or something!

Its an expensive mistake. You may be able to plead for a reduced amount though stating that you cannot afford to pay.

Every single fine I have written to the council about has been written off apart from congestion zone fine. I've got off about 8 parking tickets just from asking so worth a go?

SexyDomesticatedDad · 08/01/2009 13:29

What was stopping you from parking correctly? Guess you tried to sneak in at the end of the line but clearly its way over into the 1 hour bay - and the snow bit couldn't count as the post marks the boundary - don't see you have much of a case to argue. I know some cases where just having wheels across the bay lines in a car park means you contravene the regulations.

ThePregnantHedgeWitch · 08/01/2009 13:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

plummed · 08/01/2009 14:18

Are you parked according to the road markings? IMO they matter, not so much the position of the sign. They tend to just put those in the easiest place to dig them in.

If you are parked inside the actual bay marked out on the road then you should probably be able to weedle out of the fine...

Blondeshavemorefun · 08/01/2009 15:30

looked at the picture and yes as wheels/bonnet are clearly out of the line, you are in the wrong and you will have to pay the fines

for you but traffic warderns are fucking gits!!!

Astarte · 08/01/2009 15:41

Aw! You'd need OJ's lawyer to get out of those fines by that picture . Sorry you're being stung for sooo much though.

Simplysally · 08/01/2009 15:42

Sorry but to me it looks like you are over the line. You might be able to get the fines reduced if you appeal though.

mylifemykids · 08/01/2009 15:48

Don't know if this'll be of any help but

www.thisismoney.co.uk/consumer/savingideas/article.html?in_article_id=425551&in_page_i d=512

You'll have to c&p I think

Ashantai · 08/01/2009 15:52

LOL @ Astarte

Sorry mate, you havent got a hope in hell. My daughter thinks your car is cute tho

Original poster
oxcat1 · 08/01/2009 17:21

OK. Majority definitely think I'm wrong so I'll go with that. The thing is that the markings on teh road don't tally with the signs at all - throughout the area the signs are not aligned with the markings, and people don't park within the bays, but rather try to fit in as many cars along the road as they can. The road markings are ignored as the cars slide in one next to the other.

Guess you're all right though.
Thanks all the same!

OP posts:
Original poster
oxcat1 · 08/01/2009 17:28

I probably wasn't clear. People just park 'nose to bumper' throughout the street, and all the road bay markings are ignored. It is certainly not marked in any way that there are, for example, 3 1-hour bays and 20 residents bays. The only indication that they are not all the same is that sign, adn that doesn't align with the bays at all.

Sure you're all right though.

OP posts:
espadair · 08/01/2009 17:44

what does your ticket say if its parking contravention 24 - outwith the markings of the bay- rule of thumb is if your wheels are outwith the bay/line markings then you are liable for a ticket. If its overstaying in a free bay - contravention 30 then they're both instant tickets- take it formal appeal to the independent parking adjuducator and the burden of proof is with the council to prove the ticket was issued correctly such as lines, signs and traffic order are allcorrect and if appeas take ages because of all the evidence needed so even if youlose you wont have had to pay up ages, don't pay first though as they will consider the case closed

espadair · 08/01/2009 17:49

sorry should read "appeals take ages because you have to wait for a notice to owner to be issued after 28 days to formally appeal and then then the council has to make a case and gather evidence, even if you lose you wont have had to pay up ages, don't pay first though as they will consider the case closed
some councils might only let one ticket stand if you make it clear you are willing to pay for 1 quick as they get the cash quick without the costs of staff preparing an appeal, also cc your councillor to all correspondence as they will then (should)prioritise your case"

NAB3lovelychildren · 08/01/2009 17:51

here

NAB3lovelychildren · 08/01/2009 17:52

I would appeal but tbh I think they are within their rights to fine you as you are miles over the line.