Parking fine at school run

[js1000]

I am really upset, as I got parking tkt whn i went inside the school to pickup kids. My car was on double yellow,there are no single lines on that street. I was only away for 6 min. ( on ticket time is 3.35pm -3.41pm.
I think its v unfair because they purposely come at 3.30 when they know parents are going to be inside the school.
Is it worth appealing against it?

that sounds rubbish Goblinchild, what a nightmare.

Our school isn't like that about the parking - they are on our side and have tried to create a parking lobby group to try and get some dispensation for pick up and drop off.

I guess that's because they can see there's no alternative for most of the further away parents.

Obviously they encourage walking to school where possible and we all try to do this. But sometimes it's very very inconvenient to walk, and it would make sense to have provision for this, particularly as the residents aren't even using their parking spaces when we need them.

It's ridiculous. And even though some parents have to park on the double yellows as well, because there isn't enough space, this doesn't seem to cause any access or safety problems. (thankfully)

I would have preferred it if the traffic warden had let down all your tyres.
I propose a change in the law. No tickets, just no air.
You are very, very selfish, OP.
Next time, leave the car at home or at least park somewhere where you are not going to get a ticket and walk the rest of the way.

Just go for it purepurple...let out all your angst. Do you feel better now?

I used to live in a town that had a takeaway in a narrow street. My mate was a fireman.
So, one emergency call to a fire, persons involved and he had to go down that street.
And he did.
When the drivers who were illegally parked put in a mass complaint because his Dennis had written off their vehicles, they were fined and threatened with jail. Even though they wrre only parked up for 'a few minutes'

It's always worse on rainy days because the mummies don't want their darlings to get damp, even at the risk of another child's safety. I've had parents yell 'I will do whatever it takes to keep My Child safe!' as if that vindicates them from any other responsibility.

Crap indeed, Goblin.

I would never advocate it if it put people at risk. But it's just possible the OP's actions didn't.

I would have been interested to see how the fire engine actually did that though...did he drive OVER the cars?

sausagepastie
how patronising
people with cars do need to follow rules too, you know, owning a car does not make you 'special' or above the law
in fact, owning a car comes with responsibilities. Responsibilities to other road users, including pedestrians, who may be more vulnerable. Making them more vulnerable by parking on double yellow lines outside a school at home time is making them more vulnerable.
I bet you park on the pavememnt too.

oh yes of course, you can assume that if you wish...obviously I am a terrible driver, it shines through in my posts.

I don't think it was appropriate to say you wished her tyres had been let down.

All around our school is resident's parking only BUT for £10 a year we get a permit that allows us to park at drop-off and pick-up times (term time only) which seems fair to me. Still doesn't stop parents parking on the double yellows - usually the same ones each day.

I bet the OP poster would have been angry if it had been a white van man / trade vehicle etc that had parked on double yellows to nip into a shop for 6 minutes next to the school.
There would be much outrage at that situation and that they should have got a ticket so why not for this one.
Get there earlier, park further away and walk, simple as.

The police were outside my DCs school this week and handing out tickets to parents parking illegally. I agree with them. The parents who park in the wrong place annoy everyone, just because they can't be bothered to walk a short walk to the school.

'I would have been interested to see how the fire engine actually did that though...did he drive OVER the cars?'

Every car had either the left or right side completely destroyed. 1979, what a year.

goblinchild - ds2's school has done the same and I'm fully behind them. They have agreed with the council that the pay & display car park can be used around 3:15 - 3:45 if you display a special ticket, but parents are too bloody lazy to walk the ten minute walk to school.

You park on a double yellow and you get a ticket - no excuses.

We walk to school and last week a car was parked on double yellow lines near the school, and couldn't see on coming traffic until we were practically in the middle of the road, and an on coming car had to do an emergency stop.

Think people who park near schools especially at school time should be fined and prosecuted .

BUt we can only go on what the OP has told us, and from what she has said she was parking illegally, therefore should pay the fine.

The whole 'blocking access' thing is a valid point but a red herring in this case, double yellows and zigs zags mean don't park. If they didn't then they wouldn't bother painting them.

have skimmed the thread and dont get why op is deserving of many of the comments posted here.

yes, i get the points being made about causing obstruction, children being injured and worse. of course there is justifiable anger and upset about that....

HOWEVER

the op, (whether its a wind-up or not) said car was parked on double yellow lines. to elaborate on my earlier post, cars can to stop for passengers to hoard and alight. they can also:
park for up to 40 mins to load/unload
park for up to 3 hours (blue badge displayed)

the warden (civil enforcement officer) will usually observe the vehicle for at least 5 minutes to see if an exemption applies (as above).

if the op, or anyone else simply parks, takes child to school gate and returns, that is allowed. (i accept that the op did more than this, hence the 6 mins shown on her ticket.)

i, for one find it frustrating that parents park so selfishly outside school etc, but i dont think that lots of comments here were justified. zig-zags, loading bans (yellow lines with vertical lines on kerb) are in place at places and at times that are deemed to have particularly high traffic stress. this appears to be the type of restriction that many posts here relate to. i would share that anger too. but really, that doesnt apply in the op's case, so can we just lay off? please? and play nicely?

Renderedspeechless: You seem to have confused double yellow lines with single yellows. There is 'no stopping on double yellow lines' at any time.

I have included a link to a site which actually knows what it is talking about.
www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/documents/digitalasset/dg_070563.pd f

Also blue badgeswww.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/documents/digitalasset/dg_186198.pd f

Basically blue badge holders can park on yellow lines as long as they are not causing an obstruction for up to three hours but can't if it specifically says no loading/unloading (the yellow lines on the kerb).

For what it's worth if I am picking up I do tend to park on the local pay and display. As I am only there for 5-10 mins max I don't pay becaus I know all the parking wardens etc are outside the school putting tickets on those parked on double yellows!

And another one clear and simple:

www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q384.htm

LOL at all those who think it's acceptable to park on double yellows.....you're lucky they didn't tow you. At my childrens' school we spend our time trying to get parents to observe the highway code....double yellows do not apparently 'count'. Dangerous parking deserves a fine. Tough cookies.

GT, i havent read all the links, but i can assure you that i am not at all confused about this. however you last two posts are a perfect example of what the cofusion is. you state "there is no stopping on double yellow lines at tany time". that is incorrect.

put simply, 'no waiting' and 'no stopping' have different meaning in the context of parking rules.

double yellow lines mean 'no waiting at any time'.(your first link will confirm this wording) however the exemptions i stated in my last post apply.

no stopping however, applies to, for example the red route, and means exactly that.

By sdr Sat 20-Mar-10 08:38:00
All around our school is resident's parking only BUT for £10 a year we get a permit that allows us to park at drop-off and pick-up times (term time only) which seems fair to me. Still doesn't stop parents parking on the double yellows - usually the same ones each day.

HOORAY! That is exactly what I suggested to our city council, but they wouldn't hear of it. They really are beaurocratically obsessed, head up arse, power trippers. Well one of them is, and he knows who he is...

RS, thanks for backing me up with better info than I could produce.

I was told once by a warden that they didn't mind the car being there if someone was IN it...i said I need to escort a 6yo safely from the playground to the car, he is unable to do it himself, but I could leave my 2yo with the car if that would help?

They didn't have an answer for that.