appealing points on my license

ojste

ojste

ojste

Soldato
Joined
15 Apr 2004
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4,335
Location
Milton Keynes
so i got 3 points on my license today for parking on zig zagged lines. so before i start, i know i shouldn't have done it but then again it does seems overly harsh.

heres what happened:

it's 12:15am, i was hungry so stopped off at a takeaway to pick up some food. i was there for no longer than 3 minutes when a policeman came in and asked who's the car outside, then told me to park round the corner and he wanted a word with me.

he gives me my fine and 3 points for parking on the zig zagged lines (for reference i was parked just on the tip, though definitely on them... there is space for a few cars before the lines start but there were cars there at the time).

he then specifically tells me that he was originally just going to let me off with a caution but some taxi driver had grassed me up because they had been done for the same offence, and because of this he had no choice but to give me the full whack... basically making an example out of me.

from my eyes, its 12.15 midnight, its a quiet area, i was there for less than 3 minutes, im being made an example of and prior to this i had a clean license and no trouble with the police.

where do i stand?

cheers guys :(
 
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I find it a bit odd he told you about making an example... end of the day you parked on the lines tho so pay the fine and move on.
 
No matter what time it is or how quick you were you unfortunately broke the law and were caught. Could you have parked somewhere else within a 2 min walk?

Take it on the chin and lesson learnt.
 
The points do seem very harsh. I guess you are breaking the rules of the road so they within their rights to slap points you. Not sure there is much you can do unfortunately.

But a bit of discretion wouldn't have gone amiss on the coppers part. Late at night, quiet. Maybe just a bollocking or at worst a fine would be sufficient.
 
I can't see any way of appealing it that wouldn't cost you a lot more and potentially end up with more points not less... 3 points is a fairly minor deal unless you already have loads of points on your license or don't like abiding by the rules.
 
FooAtari said:
The points do seem very harsh. I guess you are breaking the rules of the road so they within their rights to slap points you. Not sure there is much you can do unfortunately.

But a bit of discretion wouldn't have gone amiss on the coppers part. Late at night, quiet. Maybe just a bollocking or at worst a fine would be sufficient.
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yea i think a fine would have easily been enough :/

Rroff said:
I can't see any way of appealing it that wouldn't cost you a lot more and potentially end up with more points not less... 3 points is a fairly minor deal unless you already have loads of points on your license or don't like abiding by the rules.
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so an appeal not going my way could end up in extra points/bigger fine? like said in OP though, i've got (or had) a clean license and had no trouble with the police.
 
I think you generally only get more points if you reject the points/fine at the time opting to go to court instead. But if you get an unsympathetic judge/magistrate you may end up with more points as a further deterent (they can be like that :S)
 
There's an iceland in my town with no parking particularly close, but a zebra crossing outside. So of course, everyone gets picked up and loads up their car full of shopping on the zigzags. They would make so much money if they actively checked parking in the town centre.

I can't see any way you would successfully appeal this either.
 
as i stated, i am aware that i shouldn't have done it, but given the circumstances and the fact that he told me that he could of just given me a warning... i was just wondering whether i would have a chance of a succesful appeal.

looks like im just gonna have to take the points then, thanks for the genuine answers in the thread.
 
Yeah unfortunatly you got the harsh end of the scale... but unless you get a sympathetic judge/magistrate most of them on balance of probability will just side with the letter of the law at best costing you more money and at worst if they are feeling vindictive award you more points.
 
FYI a freind of mine got done for this in Sale not long back and when his insurance came round he got a big hike in his premium. Must be offence code thy dont like or something.
 
Yep, the punishment for parking on zig zag lines is points and a fine. You parked on zig zag lines, so you get......points and a fine. Time of day has little or nothing to do with it
 
Three points for slightly intruding on to zigzag lines at midnight on a Tuesday/Wednesday.

It's "offences" like this and their subsequent enforcement that really make me wonder what the hell we are wasting our time on these things for.

At OP: I would love to see the actual road. Can you link to it on Google Streetview?
iaind said:
Yep, the punishment for parking on zig zag lines is points and a fine. You parked on zig zag lines, so you get......points and a fine. Time of day has little or nothing to do with it
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eatcustard said:
OP

You broke the law, you pay, end of.
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These sorts of threads are always really great when the logicians come along and point out what has happened. Do you think it's a great idea? Is this what we want?
 
IMO consistency is important - the law is quite clear cut, so should be enforced in a clear cut manner. If we start encouraging the police to use discresion too much, you may as well just give them the freedom to make up punishments as they feel like

It's not like were talking about a life changing sentence - deal with it and get on with it.
 
iaind said:
IMO consistency is important - the law is quite clear cut, so should be enforced in a clear cut manner. If we start encouraging the police to use discresion too much, you may as well just give them the freedom to make up punishments as they feel like

It's not like were talking about a life changing sentence - deal with it and get on with it.
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No, giving them freedom to make up punishments would be quite different to giving them the freedom to go "actually, this is causing no problem". A really good approach is:

*hmm this person is on the lines but affecting nobody*
-no action is taken

OR

"sorry, but you have to move"
"ok officer"
"thanks. have a good night!"

OR

"sorry, but you have to move"
"no officer"
"sorry but you are causing an obstruction and these people can't access burger van/the sex shop/the library"
"no officer"
"here have three points"
"boo hiss"
 
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