So after 5y of using the same spot I finally got a PCN notice in Westminster. It was always a bit shady parking spot but now it is a no no as obviously they are checking it. Ok pissed of go to Westminster website to view photos and it appears they have no photos of the vehicle. "There are no images associated with this Penalty Charge Notice." No surprise there honestly PCN was issued at 18:33 and I was there from 18:32 as per receipt so 1 minute to issue it. He has put it in while I was taking my lid/gloves off and glued it as soon as I was through the door probably running afterwards . Go figure. On Westminster website it states they do not have to have photographic evidence and it does not make PCN invalid. Apparently notes of traffic warden and his word is enough. Ehm you see where this is heading. Do not know why but I think I will appeal from this one as well on grounds of not being able to verify if it is my vehicle and if I was even there (no photos and plate no could have been picked up while I was passing by). Wigmore street where I allegedly parked is about 0.5 mile long so saying I parked illegal on wigmore street is a bit open ended. I guess little F3 code means part of it. I know that some of you doogooders will say pay up if you did it but I did say it before if they do not bother why should I. This post is more of an FYI that Westminster now believes no proof is needed to issue and pursue PCN. That we are to fully trust their and their employees judgement and honesty. I like comedy.
From their website: "There are no images associated with this Penalty Charge notice. Photographs or videos are supplementary information to the notes recorded by a Parking Attendant when issuing a Penalty Charge Notice. There is no statutory obligation on the City Council to provide a photograph as evidence that a parking contravention occurred and if no photograph is available, this in no way invalidates the Penalty Charge. We ask that Parking Attendants do not photograph a contravening vehicle in the presence of the person appearing to them to be its driver. It is also likely that a photograph may not be present if the Penalty Charge Notice was ‘handed to the driver’ or the person appearing to the Parking Attendant to be in charge of the vehicle, as opposed to being fixed to the vehicle. This is because we ask that the Parking Attendant first serve the Penalty Charge Notice before taking any photographs. The City Council regrets causing any undue offence if a Parking Attendant has inadvertently photographed you whilst carrying out their duties."
It is not about that sorry you are missing the point. How can they argue I was there? Not guilty until proven otherwise. Even if it was stuck on my bike and even if I was in the area I could have been parked legally and guy was just new, idiot, prick in bad mood had a period or just got dumped who knows. There is no legal requirement for PCN to be glued to your vehicle, there is apparently no requirement to have photo evidence or any other hard evidence. Ergo there is no legal requirement on them to prove you guilty all they have to do is accuse you and you are.
I've never heard of the idea of photo evidence to back up a parking ticket. Must be a "Big Smoke" thing :smile: You've got a parking ticket - £60 maybe? That's £12 per year. £6 per year if you pay it within 14 days - I assume there's a discount for early settlement. If you parked illegally, you have to expect a ticket sometime.
I would say that if you managed to park for free for 5 years, that's a result. You've saved so much a PCN is a modest payment for the time. You'll lose this one. There were parking tickets decades before photographic evidence was even possible. So just depends how fun the fight is for you vs the energy you'll have to expend. Enjoy!
Actually in "Big Smoke" it is £65 when discounted 50% With councils playing the parking game minimum they should do is photos. Come on we are talking about the same council that was photographed lifting a car, painting double yellow and issuing ticket for parking there 15 min later.
My statistic is I pay every 2nd parking fine in general and never yet paid on full price. Did you watch last watchdog they have an issue on how nice councils behave with regards to parking amongst them Westminster. Watch it is a good fun. Oh and decades ago it was easier as there was very few parking restrictions, currently they have different one for each part of "Big Smoke".
If the council has a 5min grace policy you may have a chance at appeal. Westminster probably doesn't and don't have to. Posting details here may help more: http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showforum=30
If you have the time and nothing else better to do then contest. Personally I cba with shit like a parking ticket taking over my valuable time.
If you want to fight it, fight it. As long as you weren't parking dangerously, and this is purely a financial issue, it's all part of the parking game so have at it! I suspect you'll lose though. Unless you have photographic evidence :wink: to prove otherwise, the magistrate will assume that the warden is telling the truth and that the motorist is lying :smile:
3 times I had a magistrate appearance (Bromley, Westminster and the one where Camden is) 3 times a day before received a phone call from magistrate to not bother coming council never sent the paperwork. I take those odds. Troy you can do it by e-mail now so it is free and will only take 5 min at best.
The irony is. There are free parking spots in Westminster. Pretty much all the Westminster run car parks offer free motorcycle parking. So 5 years for your free parking at a charge of £30 reduced ticket is not so bad. You are just ill informed about where to park.
In that case, it clearly is a game. Another situation where an organisation attempts to fleece the gullible and vulnerable whilst ignoring those who can play the system and are "in the know"
It is a game, exactly as you say. But one you get dealt into, even if you don't want to. Luca is probably right. In the end, it's a bluff on the part of the council. If you call them on it, they fold, whether your cards are useless or not.
If you think the council are paying the bluffing game, you should read up about Private Parking Companies (PPCs) who take over "management" of a car-park, often previously free car parks, then introduce (unenforceable) restrictions before sending "Parking Charge Notices" (ie, not Penalty Charge Notices!) to people for minor indiscretions when they have no legal right to do so, breaking multiple privacy laws along the way. At £80 a ticket, it doesn't take many for them to get rich quickly off the gullible!
Did we not recently discuss a guy going to prison for perverting the course of justice because he discussed on a site like this how he was going to lie to get off the offence. You admitted in your first post that it was you
Therein lies the difference between saying that you weren't there (which would indeed be naughty), and asking them to prove that you were.
If you respond to a ticket then they know you got it and were there. Never responded to anything until it comes to a registered address for you. Then feel free to say you were not there or ask for proof of illegal parking. It is a game and fun if you like that kind of thing.
