I've written requesting the court hearing. Did LOTS of research right up until the 28th day and found nothing to challenge the integrity of my arguement. I delivered the request, including email from the council which asked for details of the fpn so they could advise the police that they should not issue tickets of this nature & also had the tro details of the bays existence as a council enforced bay. I printed the document first noted by my good friend green_and_mean and took the lot to police headquarters. A jolly nice lady from the ticket office answered my final questions on fpn policy in a decriminalised area (obviously not commenting on my individual case) and was able to confidently hand over the package. She said I'd done the right thing, researching it and not to worry; they will see that it goes to the right people. Fpn can only be given to zig-zags/ moving offences/ obstructions etc and the only people able to deal with cancellations are the issuing officer, she said. A very reassuring conversation, for which I'm grateful. Received my acknowledgement letter. I fully expect to have to work at it and go all the way. I'm sure that basic human rights still apply and you don't have to pay costs if you win? I mean the government haven't changed that yet have they?

Indeed you are sir. ..and thank you for that post; it will come in handy!

I spoke to a member of Liverpool Council's Traffic Management team and was advised that Police cannot issue Fixed Penalty Notices to Council enforced bays (as previously quoted by green_and_mean). He said it does occasionally happen, and that the officer in this case, in his opinion, has got it wrong. He offered to support this argument in writing. The gentleman was extremely helpful and I'm grateful to him for the advice. He also said that the bays in that area are under review for possible maintenance. I'm now drafting my contesting letter.

Ok. Should I ring the council parking services again and ask them to do something about it (the voice on the phone is not the same as those who process appeals 'in the back room' so to speak; I was told that they're the ones who would consult TROs) ..or write to them requesting the TRO anyway? I'm thinking that it is likely a real disabled bay as Liverpool Council's website states the number of each parking bays on all the roads in the city centre and it's one of them. 'Wood Street- 5' Liverpool City Council Find a blue badge parking bay Do you suppose the argument is more likely to be that it does not meet the guidelines that mkb mentioned i.e. Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002?

No not Stevie Wonder. Also not a helicopter pilot, as they probably have a better angle. The point of my constesting is that it is substandard in it's marking. The council won't provide a TRO. They said they've only been asked once before and that they hold it at the local public library, but this turned out not to be the case any more. 'Find out the Highways Authority info' was their only advice. I've emailed the Highways Agency to see what their advice is about obtaining a bays details.

Awesome. Saved a copy of said regulations, and will provide a copy in my letter to Police.

Cool, thanks. I'll get on to the council about the TRO tomorrow. On the strength of your white line idea, I feel more positive on contesting this. Thank you.

I apologise for the wait. I returned to the site and the illegible marking is actually readable (it's in relief, i.e. on cobbles so it DOES almost disappear when you see it in perspective from your car). But there's only 1 marking to a 4 car space. There's also 1 lamp post sign that's pretty small. I feel let down by the council to be honest, because that's just NOT good enough. A traffic warden advised me of the strict guidelines that they have to adhere to when enforcing disabled bays; Markings and lamp post signs next to it. I believe you should have a fair chance of reading signs from your driver's seat, without having to make an effort to get out, walk around and look, on the off chance that where you've parked is covertly restricted! May just pay it as I hate the fact I parked in a disabled bay but I still want to complain to the council. P.S. What's a TRO?

Hi, On 22nd July I received a Fixed Penalty Notice from Merseyside Police for parking in a disabled bay at 21:05hrs; Code 18: "Parking in length of road... (disabled)". I was there to load gear into the adjacent building where I was playing a gig. We are always told to park there as the bays are next to the loading door and have no regulation. The location, Wood Street is cobbled, narrow and pretty ancient. The disabled markings that line the bay have all but worn off the cobbles and are pretty illegible. Pretty bad, as you can't read it properly. Apparently readable to a (likely) horse mounted police person though. You can just about read the word but you have to stand on it and squint to make it out. There is no disabled wheelchair icon in the bay and no wall or lamp post signs next to the bay. There is upon inspection a very small lamp post sign at the top of the road on the corner, denoting that there are disabled bays in the road, but it's hard to notice as you turn into the road. I would have thought that the bay itself requires better marking so that people have a fair chance of being informed and that any offences are enforceable. I also have no idea if there is a certain time that these bays are effective. Martin Lewis' site advises that Police tickets are harder to contest. I'm going to photograph and record the location in support of my objection tomorrow. I was mortified to learn I was actually in a disabled bay, as it's a pet hate of mine. I'd park on the far side of a 24hrs ASDA at 4 in the morning, than park in it's disabled bay. I feel the council has let me down by not maintaining the markings and making it more obvious. Any ideas on my chances, and also are there any precedents to my case? Thanks people.

Will do. Thanks for the wisdom, especially Lateralus. Fight The Power.

Ok, cool. Just wanted to run that by you, in the 'Us vs. The Banks' sense.. I'll accept. Done!

Got a letter from DG today. They offer the money I ask for, but curiously around £4 short of the full amount. What should I do? Is this just an arrogant way of knowing they didn't pay everything I asked for, or just a way to cover costs of envelopes?!! Strange!

Doing the DG letter right now. Do I send the Excel calculations print-off or my own list? How many copies?

I spoke to MCOL helpline and they said that it's been acknowledged as of 5th January- I should have had a copy of it, and I shouldn't have had 3 seperate Notice's of Issue! They'll try and forward me another copy of the Acknowledgement. Definitely a bug in the system somewhere. Seeing as it's moving, shall I send my breakdown of the charges to DG or do I wait for them to contact me directly? I gather I don't press 'Judgement' until 5th February.

Lateralus, Thanks for standing by. Now you mention it, I haven't actually received a Notice of Acknowledgement; having dealt with another bank I know what it looks like. I HAVE however, received about 3 copies of the Notice of Issue. I don't know whether that's a glitch. I don't recall 3 copies last time. Will I need to call someone at Northampton?