Rant Parking notification and towing!!!

Hello all, I don't post her often but thank you for taking the time to read this post and hopefully I'll be able to get some good advice (and perhaps my money back!!!)

Today I have received a PCN and towing in the east end of London. I have provided pictures below.

I will say that I have parked outside of the parking bay as shown in the following picture


This is my residential area outside of my property (seen on the left of that picture above) with a valid parking permit, however it was at 10:34am (the restrictions state "permit holders only mon-fri 10am-noon") that i got notification of the PCN. Today was a dustbin collection day and the reason the car has been parked in this particular way was to allow neighbours to place their bins, or even allow the bins to be brought out of that particular area where the door has been opened, if i had parked correctly in this bay, our neighbours would not be able to take their bins out. (my neighbours can vouch for me on this, if this is relevant)



one more thing that i would like to add, is that on previous occasions other people have attempted to park their vehicle in that particular bay they have damaged my own private property (my fence has been broken and damaged)

My PCN is as follows






If there is anything further to add, there are a total of eight parking bays allocated on this dead end street, with 20+ households, many of which have more than one car. There are private garages, but obviously not everyone uses them and furthermore not every vehicle has a valid parking permit and take up parking bays outside of restricted times, thus taking the bays and leaving insufficient space for other cars to be parked. (as of 4pm today all parking bays had already been taken!)

Any suggestions will be much appreciated

 

So wait, you have a permit, you were in the bay in the alotted hours, and got a ticket for NOT having a permit?

You'll find there's no "oh I was being considerate so it was ok to break the rules" when it comes to parking / money grabbers in general, but if that bit ^^ is true then they're clearly in the wrong...?

 

No, i have a permit, however i was parked half outside of a bay as pictured at 10:34am (there are parking restrictions between 10am and noon)

 

I'm not sure where you stand legally, but if I was in your situation I'd just refuse to pay. They're saying you've committed a violation because you weren't fully inside the parking area, but it's clear that you had good reason to park the way you did for your neighbours' sakes.

Call or visit the Citizens' Advice Bureau for legal advice, and file a complaint with the local authority to dispute the ticket; I think you should stick to your guns even if legally you're in the wrong.

You shouldn't be punished for being neighbourly because of some job's-worth.

I'd also ask your neighbours to counter-sign your complaint, both to show support and to corroborate the fact that you had moved your car to allow access for refuse collection. You could even contact that department of the council and ask them to provide a statement confirming that the bay, when in use, prevents access to bins.

If all else fails contact the local paper with the story, I'm sure they'd print it.

Bottom line though, the only way they'd get the money from me is by force: there's absolutely no way I'd willingly pay that ticket.

Good luck. Let us know how you get on.

 

Thanks Comrade for the advice, while i do accept i was in the wrong here, i would have had to pay regardless as it was in a pound and the costs would be increasing on a day to day basis! But I have taken your advice whole heartedly!

 

Oh sorry, I didn't realise they'd towed it, I thought they'd left the ticket on the car... the b*st*rds!

I'd complain and try to get the money back then because that is disgusting.

 

The towing confuses me as i was 'illegally' parked in a really quiet road outside my house. The towing doesn't seem warranted here at least

 

Hmm the ticket states "parked in restricted street during prescribed hours", does that cover the fact you parked half in/half out of the bay then??...

You state that your permit allows you to park during those restricted hours so your permit covers the above offence in that your allowed to park there.

They have not ticketed you for parking outside the allocated parking zone/bay which is what you have technically done, i would appeal on the basis you have been ticketed incorrectly unless i am reading your ticket wrong.

Cost you nothing to appeal.

 

As I understand it parking in the street (as opposed to the parking bays) is prohibited and whoever towed the car decided that because he was half over the line they were justified in taking the car: they're saying because he wasn't completely inside the bay he was parked illegally.

 

You have a leg to stand on. Use that leg, and fight with it.

 

I f**k*** loath parking nazis. Often they're complete bone headed wan* pots
Okay that doesnt help you any I just needed to vent my spleen

 

My sister got towed twice in Edinburgh for restricting access to her own drive way.

 

Did her husband / partner get bored of the tow truck in the end?
lol

 

There is nothing to say except fight and appeal it using what you have explained here, if they still decide you are in the wrong and they want your money (which lot of them do) then take them to court.

If you explain to them fully like how you have done in this thread, and ask your neighbours if they're prepared to give statements or whatever to back up what you have said you have a good chance. Judges use common sense in addition to parking rules when making these type of rulings.
Also some of the time, these parking people do not even show up in court.

In summary appeal, if that fails then take them to court

 

^^^ This chap.

They'll never turn up... so you'll pretty much be sorted.

 

Hey guys, many thanks for all your responses!

Sorry for not making it entirely clear, I just woke up now and have parked similarly to how i was parked before.





As you can see i am outside of the bay, half in half out, for reasons stipulated in the OP. I believe i was probably closer to the yellow line than in the picture above. As you can see it's probably not 'legal' but do i have grounds for appeal on the reasons based above and as many of you guys have kindfully assisted me with?

 

if they towed you for that they could just as well tow everyone who parks a bit off.

 

REMEMBER,

You are charged with what was on the ticket, "parked in restricted street during prescribed hours".

Not "Parking a bit wonky" or "Parking on a yellow line", they can't change that just because you have a good defense.

You were charged with "parked in restricted street during prescribed hours" but you have a permit which allows you to park there.

Don't even mention how you were parked unless they use it first. You were "parked in restricted street during prescribed hours" because you have a permit which allows you to. End of!.

 

Take a picture of your permit and send it along with the ticket to their head office. Remember to include a photocopy of a giant F-finger.

 

Ok Boldar, on the parking ticket issued to me it doesn't specifically state parking on a yellow line however isn't contravention code 01 stating that restricted area can be a yellow line within a restricted area? I do see where you're coming from however!

Also, i'm pretty sure that the warden most likely took a picture of how i was 'illegally' parked!