Parking Ticket

Peerzy · 15 Apr 2011 at 21:51

Just got my first 'parking ticket' - looking for some advice.

I parked on a road with marked parking spaces, when I got there about 7.50PM every space was taken apart from the one I parked in. It's a one way road with council buildings either side and parking bays on both sides.

Every car that was parked there did not have a pay and display ticket or anything as the signs say it's pay and display till 6PM (Mon-Sun).

I know there is a guy on here who is really good with this sort of stuff so would appreciate any help or advice?

Pictures of sign(s) and car:

Everybody I know parks there after 6PM for nights out etc and has never had a problem and every space is constantly taken.

Cheers

Mujja · 15 Apr 2011 at 21:54

Taxis only from 18:00 to 08:30

stokecity_m · 15 Apr 2011 at 21:55

?

No parking after 6pm, you did , so got a ticket.

Or am i missing something?

Dokinator · 15 Apr 2011 at 21:55

Ahh dude thats too bad

Peerzy · 15 Apr 2011 at 21:55

Yeah but is that law? Nothing saying I'd get a ticket for that, not one single car was a taxi and I've never seen a taxi park there.

I'm just double checking, I'm thinking I've gotta pay it but wanted to make sure the taxi thing is actually enforceable considering it's not used by taxi's at all.

Peerzy · 15 Apr 2011 at 21:57

Google Street View

I parked where the red MPV is parked.

stokecity_m · 15 Apr 2011 at 21:59

There's a sign stating no parking after 6pm (the yellow one with the no waiting symbol.)

Mujja · 15 Apr 2011 at 21:59

The other card must have had permits. Between 08:30 to 18:00 you can park with a ticket. After 18:00 must be residents and taxis only.

Best thing is to just pay it and learn from your 'mistake'. I've often thought about disputing the tickets I've had in the past but the time and stress aren't worth it even if I'm sure I have a case. That's half a tank of fuel now. Just drive around less for a couple of week

Peerzy · 15 Apr 2011 at 21:59

That yellow sign says 'No waiting' - I wasn't waiting, I was parking. Waiting is when you are in the car, like a drop off zone or something.

Just to clarify there is no residential area around there, and for as long as I've been driving 6 years people park there after 6 when going drinking into the town.

No one had permits tonight.

thepeteh · 15 Apr 2011 at 22:00

Pay the £35 and forget about it, park somewhere else in future.

Mujja · 15 Apr 2011 at 22:02

Peerzy said:
Google Street View

I parked where the red MPV is parked.

Looks like if you were on the other side of the road you would have been OK, taxis only on the side you were.

Dokinator · 15 Apr 2011 at 22:02

Tbh mate I think you were in the wrong and its one of these unfortunate things

Mujja · 15 Apr 2011 at 22:04

Peerzy said:
That yellow sign says 'No waiting' - I wasn't waiting, I was parking. Waiting is when you are in the car, like a drop off zone or something.

No waiting definately means no parking !!!

Peerzy said:
Just to clarify there is no residential area around there, and for as long as I've been driving 6 years people park there after 6 when going drinking into the town.

No one had permits tonight.

Doesn't matter what's there, who else was parked and if there was a taxi or not. If you can't read the signs or understand what no waiting means you need to retake your test.

Peerzy · 15 Apr 2011 at 22:05

thepeteh said:
Pay the £35 and forget about it, park somewhere else in future.

Rather double check.

Mujja said:
Looks like if you were on the other side of the road you would have been OK, taxis only on the side you were.

Hmmm interesting.

Dokinator said:
Tbh mate I think you were in the wrong and its one of these unfortunate things

Yeah, just seems odd that everyone parks there for 6 years and gets nothing. No one had permits tonight, the road has never been used for a taxi, taxi's don't even drive down there as it's 1 way so go another way and have a taxi rank less than 2 minutes walk.

I wasn't 'waiting' so can't be done by that sign, I was after 6PM so didn't need to pay and display, it's only the taxi rank sign but that doesn't really look like a proper council sign.

Just want to be sure.

Peerzy · 15 Apr 2011 at 22:06

Mujja said:
Doesn't matter what's there, who else was parked and if there was a taxi or not. If you can't read the signs or understand what no waiting means you need to retake your test.

Retake my test because I'm asking about a ticket?

Parking and waiting are two different things in my book.

If I park up and go away for 3 hours I'm not waiting there.

If I pull up and sit in the car with a engine on and brake on I'm not parking.

TS7 · 15 Apr 2011 at 22:14

Peerzy said:
That yellow sign says 'No waiting' - I wasn't waiting, I was parking. Waiting is when you are in the car, like a drop off zone or something.

Just to clarify there is no residential area around there, and for as long as I've been driving 6 years people park there after 6 when going drinking into the town.

No one had permits tonight.

Where would be the logic in a rule which prohibited you from waiting but allowed you to park. That would be ridiculous.

Just because something has been overlooked for a long time doesn't mean it's no longer enforceable, generally. There's certain areas in all towns which you can get away with parking in which you aren't technically allowed to do, however on the odd occasion every still ends up with a ticket.

Peerzy · 15 Apr 2011 at 22:21

TS7 said:
Where would be the logic in a rule which prohibited you from waiting but allowed you to park. That would be ridiculous.

No idea, but looking on the DirectGov website (clicky) they clearly count parking and waiting as two different things.

TS7 said:
Just because something has been overlooked for a long time doesn't mean it's no longer enforceable, generally. There's certain areas in all towns which you can get away with parking in which you aren't technically allowed to do, however on the odd occasion every still ends up with a ticket.

Agree and undertstand that, just want to make sure I've not been shafted so someone can make his monthly figures. No other cars had permits or parking tickets.

MisChief · 15 Apr 2011 at 22:27

Mujja said:
Looks like if you were on the other side of the road you would have been OK, taxis only on the side you were.

This

I know that road very well - I think they changed it to a single yellow line/taxi rank on the left hand side a few years ago? I don't remember that being there when I used to work in Woking.

Burned_Alive · 15 Apr 2011 at 22:43

Brush up on your highway code:

http://www.gateshead.gov.uk/Transport and Streets/Parking/street/clearway.aspx

What happens if I park here?

Any vehicle parked when restrictions are in place may be issued with a Penalty Charge Notice.

OllyM · 15 Apr 2011 at 22:48

Is this a serious thread? You didn't read the signs correctly (and they are pretty damn clear!) and got a ticket... pay it and forget about it. You are in the wrong.