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

[oxcat1]

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.

You're waaaaayyyyy over the line. I'm surprised that you are even trying to convince others that you are right.

Actually, the OP may have a point. The bay markings don't coincide with the poles, and it is unclear as to where the free 1 hour bays start and the resident bays end. Personally, I wouldn't park like that (but then I rarely have to park in cities at all) but if most other cars also ignore bay lines (get more photographic proof, OP!) I reckon she might have a cause to appeal.

Why DID you park like that? Was there another car there when you parked? Not sure if it makes a diff though. I think I would always assume the road markings were right and that they had put poles/signs wherever they could. I wouldn't think the poles mark the parking bays.

another reason you may have got three tickets is that the fact you hadnt been to your car in 3 days ( you said a ticket a day) and maybe traffic warden thought as you had obviously left it there for over an hour ( 36hrs possibly) thats why you had 3 tickets

I parked how I did because there was both a car in front and a car behind, and I was clearly taking up a space that another car had vacated. As I mentioned, the road bay markings are very much ignored by everybody, apart from to indicate the start and the end of the parking zone.

I got 3 tickets because I parked late on Monday night and then didn't go to the car again until Wednesday as I walked everywhere in between. If I thought I had parked illegally then of course I would have moved hte car sooner, but it just didn't occur to me as I have parked there before, as does everybody else if there happens to be a space vacant.

My tickets are all contravention 30 - outstaying my permitted time on a 1 hour space. The road bay markings are not enforced in this area, so I only went by the pole, and I assumed as I had almost all of the car on the right side of the pole (and indeed was clearly parked in a space vacated by antoher car as I had to reverse park to get into the space), I would be fine.

I think it will be worth an appeal, but I suspect you're all right, and I won't get anywhere. I really did think I had parked correctly, going only on the pole and on previous parking experience (have lived here for 2 years and never had a ticket before for parking in that space). I do get all your points about the bay markings on the road, but I really don't think they are enforced adn certainly that is not the contravention I've been charged with. I won't do it again though!

Thanks again.

did any other cars have parking tickets?

No, but then all the cars in front of me were clearly well within the residents' parking area, and all the cars behind clearly within the one hour zone, that doesn't apply after 6pm! I've never seen anyone else parked in that space get ticketed before, but they are pretty hot on tickets around here.

Hi Oxcat, I cant remember if you have said when the tickets were issued, but please make your decision carefully. If you do decide to appeal it will be against the full charge and you will waive your chance to pay the discount rate.

My advise to you would be to write to the Council.All Councils have a set of cancellation criteria and circumstances for which they will cancel a ticket. The Council is more lenient with residents and may look on your case favourably. Three tickets were issued becuase a different contravention is considered to have occurred for each day. However if the vehicle is not moved, then it may be considered as one offence. If the Council do not agree to cancel the tickets, they will (or should) re-offer you the chance to pay the discount charge (if the ticket was issued less than 14 days ago).

Actually, I would suggest you call them up first and see whether they will consider a written challenge at this time.

I have looked at the picture and it would appear that the signpost is not correctly placed. I cannot give you a definitive answer as to the legality and enforceablity of the sign (i really should get back to doing my work) but I would agrue that the location of that sign is confusing. HTH

Thanks very much Lonestranger. I shall do everything you have suggested and keep my fingers crossed. I have definitely learned my lesson....!

If the signs don't line up with the bays, where is the line that marks the boundary of the 1-hour spaces in relation to the pole the signs are on?

If it's to the R of the pole then IMO you do have a case; if it's to the L then you don't. I can see a line just behind your front wheels but I can't see another one.

(Apols if this has been covered already )

Perfectly obvious - sign on the left indicates the bay on the left - sign on the right indicates the bay on the right.

All your wheels need to be in whichever bay your permit is for or you will get fined.

It is of no consequence what everyone else does I am afraid.