PENALTY CHARGE NOTICE

Posted by: naim_nymph on 13 April 2011

I don’t often drive into town during the busy time of the day, so i’m really not familiar with urban parking rituals.

But after parking my car on a road side parking space near a pay meter, I got out the car with purse in hand with every intension to buy a parking ticket, but walking towards the pay meter I read an official parking information sign [blue with thin white boarder, white lettering] it reads…

 

~~~~~~~~~~~

Parking

 

One Hour

 

Up to 2 Hours

Pay at Meter

~~~~~~~~~~~

 

I was nicely surprised to see the sign say [by the way the wording is spaced] payment is only due for parking up to 2 hours, so i didn't beleive payment was required for less than one hour.

 

Three-quarters of an hour later I returned to my car which had a PENALTY CHARGE NOTICE under the windscreen wiper! : (

 

Did I have a fluffy moment today, or have I been subject to misrepresentation?

 

Debs

 

Posted on: 13 April 2011 by Mike-B

???  ........  a fluffy moment Debs,  it catches up with us all. 

 

I would always assume that unless a parking meter actually says 1st hour free, I would always feed it.

But in this case it sure looks like a confusing notice & what might be missing text in the spaces,  as it just does not make sense. 

I would be tempted to take a photo of that sign & other signs in the area - hopefully with no spaces of missing bits & plead innocent confusion caused by the sign defect.  Or if all signs in the area are the same,  ask what the sign actually means - in plain English.

 

Posted on: 13 April 2011 by Julian H

Very poor sign. As Mike says, take a photo and contest it. But do it quick or you might not be eligible for a lower penalty if not paid in a certain amount of time.

 

Good luck!

 

Julian

Posted on: 13 April 2011 by naim_nymph

The penalty charge notice is very well written in extremely plain English.

Nothing ambiguous about that at all!  

 

I’m thinking about challenging it, but wonder if the hassle of doing so may outweigh - just paying up.

Posted on: 13 April 2011 by Jonn

Looks like times or days are missing from the spaces- other signs in the vicinity may fill the gaps. If so you have a good case IMO for dispute with photo evidence.

 

Cheers

John

Posted on: 13 April 2011 by Mike-B

If the powers that be are like the London mob,  might be worth at least 1 letter

I was driving on a main road that skirts the "Conjestion Zone" & was directed on a detour to avoid a traffic accident jam by a cop.  I must have taken a wrong turn but realising I was on the wrong road,  flipped around & on my way.  3 days later the penalty notice arrived.  I contested it as per above & they withdrew without a question