PCN - Parking on Single Yellow Lines

[Demtootief]

Hello All,

I received a PCN yesterday from Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council for 'Parking in a restricted street during prescribed hours'.

I specifically checked before parking, and there were no, as far as I saw, restiction signs available in my line of vision. On coming out, I met two traffic wardens speaking to a lady in a car who was parked on the very same single yellow line that I was parked on. There were two other cars parked on the same yellow with no PCN on them.

When I saw the ticket on my car, I appraoched the two wardens and asked why did I have a ticket, to which one replied that I was parked outside the hours, I then asked where the restriction sign was, to whihc she said on the lampost, and I had to almost break my neck looking up to see where it was. I then asked why I had a ticket and the 3 other cars did not. The car they were speaking to the lady in then drove off, and they said that the others had badges. I went and checked to see whether they had any badges and they did not - and even if they did, there were designated 'disabled' parking spaces about 25 yard down the high street.

I have tried to challenge the PCN online as the reverse of the PCN notice advises to do, however the website does not work, so I am composing a letter.

Can anyone please advise me as to my best defence option?

Thanks in advance.

[adamna]

Was the sign too high, or too far away? There should be limitations about how high. If it falls outside those, then the challenge is inadequate signage. Take photos if you can.

[Demtootief]

Thank you Adamna, the sign was very high, however I have in the past challenged and won a PCN based on the fact that other vehicles that were parked in the immediate vicinity around my car had no ticket while mine had, so that is part of the angle I want to take.

[Bernie_the_Bolt]

Originally Posted by Demtootief

Thank you Adamna, the sign was very high, however I have in the past challenged and won a PCN based on the fact that other vehicles that were parked in the immediate vicinity around my car had no ticket while mine had, so that is part of the angle I want to take.

If you do I predict you will lose. This is not a valid challenge. I suggest you got lucky or there were other reasons the time before.

[green_and_mean]

Originally Posted by Bernie_the_Bolt

If you do I predict you will lose. This is not a valid challenge. I suggest you got lucky or there were other reasons the time before.

Exactly!! There are numerous reasons other vehicles may not have got tickets such as loading was observed, valid blue badge or permit. Unless you are extremely recognisable and unpleasant person its very unlikely a PA would just give you a PCN and ignore other cars on purpose I think you are getting paranoid.

[adamna]

There are numerous reasons why a PA wouldn't ticket other vehicles....

Like the same 2 daily illegally parked vans near me. I'm trying to find out why they've been getting preferential treatment for the last couple of years. Since I asked the TfL ticket man on a motorbike, they've disappeared.:o

That's a shame as I would prefer that appropriate legal parking is made available, they are attached to local shops who are struggling to survive and obviously need to park somewhere.