Penalty Charge Notices London = JOKE!!

MattHep

MattHep

MattHep

Associate
Joined
25 Sep 2007
Posts
818
Location
Hertfordshire
Bit of a moan here to be honest.

I've just had a PCN through from Southwark Council regarding my car been in a hatched area of a junction.

Now I am really anal about things like this and drive as best I can and never block junctions etc etc, so I've taken the news quite badly.

Now I've had this notice through with a photo of my car clearly on a hatched area which I cannot dispute but looking at the photo which is extremely zoomed in and doesn't show all the car just the rear im pretty sure it's just my rear two wheels on it by around 1 meter or so. There is also a car parked directly behind me on it.

The annoying thing is Rotherhithe Tunnel which I normally use was shut so traffic was gridlocked and the only way to get through the traffic lights would have been to park partially on the hatched area as I'm sure many people had to do.

I'm seriously considering disputing this as I really think it's unfair and a complete money making scam.

London is one of the busiest cities in the world but yet there are these petty fines been dished out left right and centre. I would understand if it affected the safety of people on the road but this situation definitely seems petty to me.

Are there any council people on here that deal with this who can advise?

Matt
 
Photographed with car partially in a hatched area - not quite sure what disputing it will gain you.
With regards the car behind you - I expect he got one too.
 
It's a money making joke of a scheme, I agree. Don't expect sympathy on here though, you'll soon get the hordes telling you that you could have killed someone by blocking an ambulances path etc.
 
acemastr said:
Don't enter unless you can exit, it's really rather simple.
Click to expand...

Except it's not. It's never that simple. There are some junctions where, if you don't go into the yellow box, you'll never move. Because by the time the queue moves, another bunch of traffic from the side will have moved in to fill the space. There's no winning in these situations - you either break the law, or you sit there for hours.
 
MattHep said:
Then in that situation I would have never entered the junction as explained.

I do await the flaming but I trust there are also people on here with common sense.
Click to expand...

It's not on here you need to find common sense, it's with the council parking department. I don't fancy your chances.
 
acemastr said:
Don't enter unless you can exit, it's really rather simple.
Click to expand...

Not as simple as that.

There are plenty instances where you are clear to move forward when a gap appears in your lane.
Then some "Eric" who has driven into the Box Junction before HIS lane is clear then cuts in front of you and nicks your lane thus leaving you in the Box:confused:
 
rapid64k said:
Not as simple as that.

There are plenty instances where you are clear to move forward when a gap appears in your lane.
Then some "Eric" who has driven into the Box Junction before HIS lane is clear then cuts in front of you and nicks your lane thus leaving you in the Box:confused:
Click to expand...

Oh I do agree, but the highway code clearly states "Don't enter unless you can exit". It's that simple really, if some idiot cuts in front of you then the council won't care.

If that was the case surely they'd have video evidence? but still.. you're the one in the box when you shouldn't be
 
rapid64k said:
Not as simple as that.

There are plenty instances where you are clear to move forward when a gap appears in your lane.
Then some "Eric" who has driven into the Box Junction before HIS lane is clear then cuts in front of you and nicks your lane thus leaving you in the Box:confused:
Click to expand...

That is what happened to me :( cost me £85 :eek::mad::eek:
 
This was Surrey Quays wasn't it. The only way to sometimes get through that junction without having to stop in the yellow box is to turn left into Tescos then come back out and onto the main road. It is an annoying junction when the traffic is backed up.
 
London would fall to pieces if everyone followed the highway code. If it all really hasn't. To get in there first.

I got a fine for stopping in a yellow junction for less than a second. The suspension had barely settled before I was off again. The law shouldn't bother itself about triviality (there is a Latin recognised term) however the appeal procedure was so long winded and potentially would mean I would have to attend a mediation meeting during the week I just paid the £40.

It's wrong but I'm freelance and the potential loss of a days money just to prove a point wasn't worth it.
 
maccapacca said:
London would fall to pieces if everyone followed the highway code. If it all really hasn't. To get in there first.

I got a fine for stopping in a yellow junction for less than a second. The suspension had barely settled before I was off again. The law shouldn't bother itself about triviality (there is a Latin recognised term) however the appeal procedure was so long winded and potentially would mean I would have to attend a mediation meeting during the week I just paid the £40.

It's wrong but I'm freelance and the potential loss of a days money just to prove a point wasn't worth it.
Click to expand...

Totally agree, they would delay the appeal for so long that you would get to a stage where I will pay it anyway.

I'm also freelance and would loose too much to be off work. I do have a right to look at the footage but that would mean a day off.
 
Really. My footage video was available with the fine. There was a link to follow. This was in Streatham and taken by on of those poxy smart cars with a camera on a pole sticking out the sunroof.
 
Living in inner London, I know how exactly you feel. The fine system with box junction is ridiculous, you pretty much have to fight for everything when you are driving, if you sit and wait behind box junction you will never get past as other cars from crossroads come in and take up any free space then you have hordes of other angry drivers beeping and swearing at you.

So when you do go past box junction and end up having your back end slightly in the box you get a ridiculous fine, even though that small amount of violation is not causing any problems. At other times there is enough space for you to go past which you judge and then some idiot driver in front decides to stop with huge gap in front of him causing your car to fall into box junction, I once had that happen, ended up positioning myself horizontal to avoid the box.

It's a good way for these councils to generate extra income. If this is your first time violating a box junction you can appeal and write to them, some councils waive of first offence.
 
Should have posted the sob story from the OP into a post it note and then stuck it to your car window. Parking Plod might have let you off.
 
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