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Original poster

Fuming!!!! Just got a parking ticket for parking on school lines !!!

60 replies

breeze · 21/12/2005 18:29

Title says it all, fuming. I parked on the school zig-zags just up from my house and have a ticket. Its the Christmas holidays and no school. I know the sign says no parking Mon-Fri 8-4, but in the 7 years I have lived here I have always parked on them outside of term time and never had a problem before.

Does anyone know the law on this, I noticed the ticket at 5 pm and there is no number to call, just an address to write to.

OP posts:
MistletAero · 21/12/2005 19:46

I do have sympathy, but unfortunately I don't think you have a leg to stand on even if it doesn't make sense. Traffic wardens are told to enforce the parking restriction thing. I got one last week outside my own house. No choice but to park overnight on pavement, but have to cross the double yellow lines to do so - common practice in this road - you'd understand if you lived here, but everyone moves off before 8am (I came out to move mine at 7.45am) when the restriction hours begin. Sadly the wardens now start at 7am and are happy to revenue gather anywhere they know the pickings are rich and parking is never ok on double yellows. I know I haven't a leg to stand on so I just begrudgingly paid and am now in the process of digging out the garden and dropping the kerb (at huge cost) to park on my own property without the stress of always worrying if there'll be a space for overnight parking.

Janh · 21/12/2005 19:48

The zig-zags outside schools should really only be for drop-off and pick-up times, don't you all think? 8-9.30 and 3-4.30 maybe? 8-4 is pushing things anyway. Defo argue your case, breeze - you might make a difference!

Enideepmidwinter · 21/12/2005 19:49

no not necessarily

what if they do a school trip or leave school early for some reason

Janh · 21/12/2005 19:50

Aero, I would do the same if our front yard was big enough.

Janh · 21/12/2005 19:50

2 or 3 days out of 365?

daisy1999 · 21/12/2005 19:51

I wish they would issue tickets outside our school, I'm sick of the drivers there!

MistletAero · 21/12/2005 19:58

lol Jan - ours is literally the size of a zafira - which is good as ours will just about squeeze on there. I feel a bit bad about reducing the parking spaces in the road further, but the stress of coming home after about 4.30 pm and just knowing all you can think about is parking wardens if there's no space, then looking out the window waiting for someone to drive off........then leaping into your car and hoping you make it before the space is taken by someone else......etc, etc

Original poster
breeze · 21/12/2005 20:07

I have written a letter to appeal, I did appeal again one 2 years ago and won (I was parked in a 1 hour parking zone and was 1 hr 20 mins, while I had taken sick son to doctors) so there must be someone human there.
I do get really annoyed when people park there in term time, and you never seem to see one then.
I knocked on neighbours door and she is just as shocked as been parking there for over 10 years when no school.

I just put in the letter that my parking was not causing any danger nor was it obstructing anyone, appealling and hope common sense prevails.

I have had tickets before when nowhere to park and you risk half a car on yellow lines, I have more than happily admitted my fault and paid up. I just feel this time that the ticket was unjust. Would never dream of parking there on term time, its only there for the school children, and no problems in letting us park there after 4 pm.

Anyway worth a shot.

OP posts:
MistletAero · 21/12/2005 21:07

fingers crossed for you breeze.

Linnet · 21/12/2005 23:35

MisletAreo, if the restriction to parking starts at 8am, then surely the Traffic wardens can't ticket you before then, even if they do start at 7am. So long as the car is moved before the restriction starts at 8am you would be within the law, wouldn't you?

cranberryjampots · 21/12/2005 23:42

Is this a bit like its ok to speed if there's no one around?

I think you should pay up and consider future parking

thecattleareALOHing · 21/12/2005 23:47

Totally different. Speeding is dangerous. Parking outside a school during school holidays is NOT. The restrictions are there to protect schoolkids going in and out of school. In the holidays there are NO SCHOOLKIDS. How can you compare the two?

cranberryjampots · 21/12/2005 23:47

both illegal?

thecattleareALOHing · 21/12/2005 23:48

So it's the same as murder is it? That's illegal too.

flutterbeedreaminofawhitexmas · 21/12/2005 23:51

Damn traffic wardens doing there job how dare they. I bet they just swan around all day in the freezing cold, getting paid shit money giving people tickets for the fun of it.

Legally you don't have a leg to stand on I would pay the ticket (just to show that you are willing to do the right thing) and then try to get the restrictions changed, if the council can't come up with a single reason why they won't chnge the signs then speak to a local rag.

BluStocking · 21/12/2005 23:52

The notices outside our local schools say 8-10 and 2-4 September - July.
I suppose the notices set out the restrictions, and traffic wardens can't be expected to guess whether a particular school has kids in that day or not.
But definitely worth the appeal - good luck.

cranberryjampots · 21/12/2005 23:59

Is it possible there could be holiday clubs being held in the school? I know they happen in the local schools here.

bobbybobbobbingalong · 22/12/2005 01:30

Oh, this is a good thread - lots of people arguing both sides.

Original poster
breeze · 22/12/2005 09:37

Definately closed no holidays clubs or anything.

Certainly not the same as speeding, not even close.

I waved dh off to work at 8 am this morning, and the lines outside of school were all jammed back with cars, its something resisence have been doing for many years without any problems.

parking in this road is a total nightmare, you come back after 5 pm and you should consider yourself very lucky if you manage to get a space on the zig zags at all. All one way systems, so you could be driving around for ages, not to mention if you have heavy shopping bags etc etc.

Like I said I feel this ticket is unjust and will post the letter of appeal this morning.

It is very interesting to see that people do have different views.

OP posts:
shepherdswatchedtheirflockets · 22/12/2005 09:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

MrsBubsDeVere · 22/12/2005 09:43

Get it paid breeze you wench

Original poster
breeze · 22/12/2005 09:53

lol bubbles u ok?

OP posts:
MrsBubsDeVere · 22/12/2005 12:36

I'm fine sweetie, how's you? Got your card this morning. Yours is a terrible street to park anyway and I would have thought it was ok when it isn't term time.

Ring you over chrimbo x x x x x x

Give my love to your boys.

MistletAero · 22/12/2005 22:10

Unfortunately the double yellows make it ok for them to ticket me Linnet. There's no real need for parking attendants to be up here before 8am as everyone moves their cars by then - coming up earlier is a new thing - they know the problem and are taking advantage imo, but will do nothing to improve the problem (and I have written to them as have others in the road). They park across the road all day on Sundays (people visiting relatives etc - there is no alternative parking nearby - it's quite a distance away), but they don't work Sundays here (yet)!! Probably won't be long.......

NannyL · 22/12/2005 22:14

ok if i were you i would think yourself lucky.

Zigzags mean no parking or stopping or anything at all...

i know someone who stopped on them for a moment... left engine running as he ran to the postbox. policeman saw him and he got 3 POINTS on his license at £60 fine!

i would say youve been LUCKY until now.

Just cause the road is busy / theres not enough space does NOT give you the 'right' to park there (even IF you have been very lucky up until now!)

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