Appealing a loading zone ticket

weringo · 3 Nov 2012 at 17:33

Evening all

Today I parked in a Red Route Loading Zone bay to pick some stuff up from my parents only to return to a £65 parking fine :mad:

The bay had a maximum loading time of 20 minutes which I returned within, however I read some conflicting statements on the web, some arguing you have to be constantly loading for the duration you're in the bay. Whilst technically that's what I was doing, it wasn't as if I was returning to the car every 3 minutes to pick up/drop off goods.

In my eyes loading is loading and taking roughly 15 minutes doesn't seem unreasonable, although I'm fairly biased having just received a parking ticket for it

What's my chance of appealing it?

Edit - see the bay in question below

Tesla · 3 Nov 2012 at 18:11

Post a scan of the PCN.

miniyazz · 3 Nov 2012 at 18:16

IIRC you have to have a commercial vehicle for the full 20 minutes, otherwise it's 5 minutes.

weringo · 3 Nov 2012 at 18:21

Tesla said:
Post a scan of the PCN.

Scania · 3 Nov 2012 at 18:31

miniyazz said:
IIRC you have to have a commercial vehicle for the full 20 minutes, otherwise it's 5 minutes.

This afaik.

I've sat in loading zones many a time (in my Scania) and watched as cars around me get booked..... afaik, those zones are for commercial vehicles, not cars, which is why they are such Nazis.

trying to do deliverys in & around London in an HGV is nigh impossible at the best of times, cars in these zone really don't help. - You can park cars in places a 54ft Artic won't fit, hence these specific zones.

Interestingly though, despite staying way over the 20mins doing an average drop (sometimes over an hour!) I've never had an issue nor ticket in one of those zones.....

Stopping on a Red route however seems to attract them like Wasps to Jam!

Hades · 3 Nov 2012 at 18:33

This is from the TFL website:

Loading and unloading

When using a loading bay, loading or unloading must be visibile or you must be able to prove to us that you are loading or unloading.You can use loading bays for loading and unloading when there's no alternative such as a service road or back gate. Use of the vehicle must be necessary, and it must be moved immediately after loading has finished.

Scania · 3 Nov 2012 at 18:44

Interesting - no specific mention of commercials......?

Tesla · 3 Nov 2012 at 18:48

Some loading bays have signage stating they're to be used by goods vehicles only.

Hades · 3 Nov 2012 at 18:48

R420LA6X2/4MNA said:
Interesting - no specific mention of commercials......?

I couldn't see any but I'm on a phone so haven't read it all:

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/redroutes/949.aspx

I'm guessing you could not be seen, so they have you a ticket. Can you prove you were loading? If so then it might be worth an appeal.

weringo · 3 Nov 2012 at 18:51

My mum and sister can witness to the fact I was picking things up from their house, although I find it strange the defending party has to prove innocence. I would have thought the prosecuting party would have to prove I was not loading.

Seems an odd interpretation of the law by the TFL.

Hades · 3 Nov 2012 at 18:56

weringo said:
My mum and sister can witness to the fact I was picking things up from their house, although I find it strange the defending party has to prove innocence. I would have thought the prosecuting party would have to prove I was not loading.

Seems an odd interpretation of the law by the TFL.

Its to stop people just using it as a parking space. Personally i doubt a testimony from immediate family would have much weight.

Tute · 3 Nov 2012 at 19:03

weringo said:
although I find it strange the defending party has to prove innocence. I would have thought the prosecuting party would have to prove I was not loading.

Sadly when it comes to traffic law you're guilty until proven innocent.

miniyazz · 3 Nov 2012 at 19:10

I can't find what I read a couple of years ago, looks like it's normally 20mins for all (although commercial vehicles may be able to stay longer in loading bays) - but if you haven't returned to your car within 5 minutes, you may be deemed 'not loading' and fined.

atpbx · 3 Nov 2012 at 19:44

Its commercial vehicles only.

Thats why they exist, so people who need to park outside the shops can do their jobs.

Hades · 3 Nov 2012 at 20:08

atpbx said:
Its commercial vehicles only.

Thats why they exist, so people who need to park outside the shops can do their jobs.

What about private cars where people are, for example, loading a new TV into the back that they have just bought?

miniyazz · 3 Nov 2012 at 23:33

Hades said:
What about private cars where people are, for example, loading a new TV into the back that they have just bought?

Shopping is specifically excluded.

Westyfield2 · 3 Nov 2012 at 23:55

Blimey, I didn't know it was for Commercial vehicles only. I thought "Loading" meant the act of a person with which something is put in a ship or vehicle or airplane for conveyance... not that you only ever load into commercial vehicles!

[TW]Fox · 4 Nov 2012 at 09:39

Loading isn't picking up random items from a nearby house sadly. It's specifically loading a vehicle.

atpbx · 4 Nov 2012 at 13:24

Hades said:
What about private cars where people are, for example, loading a new TV into the back that they have just bought?

That would be their problem.

Dr Who · 4 Nov 2012 at 13:51

[TW]Fox;23097096 said:
Loading isn't picking up random items from a nearby house sadly. It's specifically loading a vehicle.

This, the items must be in transit between vehicle and kerbside only. Parking and going off to collect items to put in your car doesn't count as "loading".