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

[breeze]

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.

Fraid that the while the Council might have waived a fine for mitigating circs (your son was sick), in this case you're banged to rights - why should they write it off?
The only problem with appealing the fine is that you often get a 50% discount if you pay within 14 days. Obviously you wouldn't qualify for this if you make a formal appeal. And you cannot pay without prejudice as in paying you would be accepting liability for the fine.
If I were you I'd just pay this time and try and see whether the timeplates could be changed.

Hmmm... it's not often you find a human on the end of a parking appeals letter.

What you might not know is that school zig zags must be between 2 defined lengths and laid out in a certain manner. Many are not. I knopw more about this than is healthy to. This would have been a case for appeal, as would also the signs having not been designed according to my bible.

Bit late if you've sent the letter though.... (Had you have parked in term time, I would have posted "Muhahaha!" but you didn't and I agree that it's not great - I do think that signs that say "term time" are on the face of it at least, a bit ropey)

Oh, and by the way, the school zig zags are not the same (in law, colour and dimensions) as zig zags where penalty points can apply

The 14 days only comes in once you've received the result of any appeal though - you have 14 days to pay at the discounted rate from the day you receive the result of your appeal.

So the trick is to try and appeal on a technicality! I saw a programme on this recently - amazing how many tickets are overturn on technicalities - get your measuring tape out breeze!

It is, generally speaking, the only way to get a parking fine overturned MisletAero.

I have little sympathy for anyone parking illegally on, say a double yellow line, but school keep clear markings out of term time are a little unfair in my opinion.

Maybe things have changed, but the way it used to be was you get ticket telling you to pay 50% within 14 days OR the full rate thereafter. If you appeal formally (i.e. in London to TFL - NOT the Council) then you can't do that until the Notice to Owner is sent out after 28 days and non-payment of fine. So no discount. If the appeal to TFL is turned down, you have to pay the full fine.
In the meantime you can write to the Council with mitigating circs, but should be be aware that you must pay within 14 days to benefit from the discount. So should chase up with a phone call. I know my Council used to take ages and ages to respond to letters because of short staffing, and sometimes applied discretion re: the discount if the the letter to them (not a formal appeal) had been received within the 14 days. But it is discretionary.

My council offer the discount again from when they turn down your appeal.

I did once know someone who did appeal on a technicality, something to do with the double yellow lines did not have an end to them, something about should have another yellow at the end. They won. I think I did receive a reply quite quickly last time, I send it 1st class recorded so they cant say that they never received it. I lot of my neighbours are annoyed as well as they received tickets and we are mass appealing, some have plenty of money and say thats it principle and they will go to court if necessary. I will just wait and see what reply I get.

Thanks PranSerahndDancer for pointing out the difference between zig zags and school lines, I do feel that anyone who parks on crossing zig-zags deserve fines and points etc etc as they are there to aid visibility so cars can see people at the crossing.

School zig-zags are totally different, as after a certain time you are allowed to park on them anyway.

how did the appeal go breeze?