Broken Yellow Lines

Skeeter · 4 Aug 2009 at 18:53

Hi all

2 questions, firstly is the theory that if a set of double yellow lines is broke or has no T bar at the end it means parking tickets are not valid actually true, and if so, where can I find the legislation around it. My dad has been given a parking ticket, which is a crock in both cases as firstly he is a Taxi driver and was stopped to pick up a disabled passenger, and secondly because road works have dug up about 5 meters of road in the middle of a set of Yellows and replaced it with blank tarmac meaning there was no T bar on the end.

iaind · 4 Aug 2009 at 19:01

Rather than trying to kick up a fuss about a technicality, he should appeal the first one on the basis of the passenger being disabled.

The second one - if he saw the lines and decided to take the risk and park there, then he lost and should pay up.

Dogbreath · 4 Aug 2009 at 19:07

iaind said:
The second one - if he saw the lines and decided to take the risk and park there, then he lost and should pay up.

I disagree. As much as I dislike people who think they have the right to park anywhere, I think holding the local authority to a technicality should be done as often as possible until they get things right.

iaind · 4 Aug 2009 at 19:11

Depends on the technicality. Anyone who claims they misunderstood the rules because there was no bar on the end of the lines clearly needs their head checked

BlizzardX · 4 Aug 2009 at 19:13

Skeeter said:
Hi all

2 questions, firstly is the theory that if a set of double yellow lines is broke or has no T bar at the end it means parking tickets are not valid actually true, and if so, where can I find the legislation around it. My dad has been given a parking ticket, which is a crock in both cases as firstly he is a Taxi driver and was stopped to pick up a disabled passenger, and secondly because road works have dug up about 5 meters of road in the middle of a set of Yellows and replaced it with blank tarmac meaning there was no T bar on the end.

Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002 sets out along with the Traffic Signs manuals chapter 1 through 8 what are required under law for highway signage and lining to be complete and enforcable. If you refer to TSR #1018.1 ( i think it is off the top of my head) that will describe exactly what it should look like on the highway, and yes all lines should be terminated with the vertical yellow line that is approximately 300mm long for double yellows, terminating approximately 150mm from the kerb face. If the road has been resurfaced or patched and the termination marks or yellow lines are not present then you should be able to get off on a technicality, simply by looking at TSRGD 2002 and qouting the correct bits.

BlizzardX · 4 Aug 2009 at 19:25

iaind said:
Depends on the technicality. Anyone who claims they misunderstood the rules because there was no bar on the end of the lines clearly needs their head checked

The ejudicators are quite clear on this at the moment. Any none compliant markings are generally not enforcable.

Skeeter · 4 Aug 2009 at 19:40

As a Taxi driver hes entitled to a certain time limit on double yellows for the purpose of picking up or dropping off a passenger, its not much, about 2 mins or something stupid, but the traffic warden was having none of it and stated he was there for 5 mins, which he probubly was, but when collecting a disabled passenger that takes that long, what else is he meant to do. The warden was challenged at the time about the time limit and collecting a passenger but gave a ticket anyway. So they have made a rod for their own back, if they arent going to let him do his job, then they can haver a fight based on a technicality.

He has writtent ot them challenging it and they have come back with a woolly "the warden thought a ticket was justified" response, and probubly hope that he just gives in and pays. Little dop they know as soon as he gets this technically proved, that area will become a free parking zone for all the taxis in the town

. But if it gets our local council to start actually spending some money on the roads round here then all the better (anyone who knows Trowbridge knows how rubbish the roads are)

BlizzardX · 4 Aug 2009 at 20:49

Taxis are allowed to load and unload on yellow lines without limit. What they cannot do is effectively rank, or turn their engines off. Of course, this doesn't apply for none licensed mini cabs.

Skeeter · 4 Aug 2009 at 22:39

BlizzardX said:
Taxis are allowed to load and unload on yellow lines without limit. What they cannot do is effectively rank, or turn their engines off. Of course, this doesn't apply for none licensed mini cabs.

Not everywhere. My dad is a hackney carrage and is limited to a few minutes for the purpose of loading or unloading and nothing else. There is most definately a limit, in Wiltshire anyway.

Dont get me started on disabled people though!

BlizzardX · 5 Aug 2009 at 20:42

Sorry, I was talking about London as I work for a London Borough as a Highways Engineer.

Rhyzz · 6 Aug 2009 at 11:12

The guy was picking up a disabled passenger, if they fine him, take it to the papers. It's a disgrace if they do but the warden won't have known that at the time of issue, so just write to the council.

Plus, no T bar, the lines don't mean squat, so he could get off on that also.