Parking ticket for Driving elsewhere other than the road'

[kkr]

I wonder if anyone can advise me on this problem.

 

Last week I was given a parking ticket by a policeman who wrote on it ' driving elsewhere other than the road'.

 

Although this may conjure up all sort of images of my driving abilities in actual fact I was parked on a verge where there are no road markings or restrictions at all.( I have photo evidence of this)

 

This situation is due to the fact the local council (Wokingham) have put in extra double yellow lines to restrict parking outside a school. This situation is very emotive and the parents, the residents and the school all have a different perspective on it. Since the excessive restrictions, the only way they are adhered to are when the police arrive which is becoming a very regular thing. Rather than people using common sense and working together it has become quite ridiculous not least because of the money being spent on something that is far more serious.

 

I find this ticket very unfair as I was causing no danger to anyone. The police were apparently hovering around my car for ages and only seemed to put a ticket on it when they saw me coming. If it was an obvious contravention they could have slapped a ticket on it immediately.

 

Do I have any way of refusing to pay this fine of £30? The other fact is that the police themselves were parking on a single yellow line at the time. Are they above the law? The irony is that they only were parking there because of the restrictions placed by the council. It seems to me this is a money making operation and is very antagonistic when parents just want to drop their kids of and collect them from school.

 

If anyone can help with information on this I would be very grateful.

[dpick]

As someone who lives near a school I wish that the council would put double yellow lines outside my house. I am unable to get my car in or out of my drive due to parents leaving their cars across my driveway (this normally lasts for 30min morning, dinner and afternoon) we get police around maybe once every term, they issue tickets and all ok for maybe 2 week then it all starts again. What makes it even worse is that due to the road being narrow cars park part on the footpath making it impossible for people with prams/ wheelchairs to get past without going into the road.

 

dpick

[buzby]

Don't see how you came to the conclusion that they were hovering until your return. Most likely, they were holding off expecting your imminent return, and started writing when you were more than they were prepared to allow.

 

Cars are only permitted to use the roads provided - and on private land where authorised by the landowner. Since neither condition existed, it was fair game and you got caught. As for the police being 'above the law'. - be reasonable, if you hadn't parked where you did, they wouldn't have had to stop in the first place! To administer your ticket, I see no problem with this.

 

This isn't a Parking Ticket in the conventional sense - and if you don't pay the fine you go to court, where it will cost considerably more. I'd suggest you pay up and not park there again - and report others for trying to do the same trick, as you say - it isn't on.

[green_and_mean]

The other fact is that the police themselves were parking on a single yellow line at the time. Are they above the law?

 

No they are not above they law they abiding the law which says that a Police vehcle can wait on a yellow line.

[68904]

Not to go to the Flying Pizza for thier meal they aint.

[dx100uk]

simple answer

WALK!

 

dx

[Old Snowy]

Not to go to the Flying Pizza for thier meal they aint.

From a moral standpoint I'd agree with you entirely but the fact is that in law an officer can give permission for a vehicle to be parked where it would in other circumstances be in contravention of some parking restriction. This is of course doubly enforced at locations close to:

 

KFC

McDonald's

Burger King

Pizza Hut

Krispy Kreme cabinets

Al's Kebab's

Franky & Benny's

TGI Fridays

Joe's Greasy Spoon & Transport Cafe

and all Chinese, Indian, Bangladeshi, Thai, Korean and Vietnamese takeaways

[PGH7447]

As someone who lives near a school I wish that the council would put double yellow lines outside my house. I am unable to get my car in or out of my drive due to parents leaving their cars across my driveway (this normally lasts for 30min morning, dinner and afternoon) we get police around maybe once every term, they issue tickets and all ok for maybe 2 week then it all starts again. What makes it even worse is that due to the road being narrow cars park part on the footpath making it impossible for people with prams/ wheelchairs to get past without going into the road.

 

dpick

 

Ditto, bloody school runs are the bane of my life, I have even had recourse to go to the school gates and tell whoever is acros my drive they have 1 minute before I drive out and if their car is still there then they can pay for the damage to mine - suprisingly that worked for a month or so

[kkr]

This was not meant to start a polemic regarding parking near schools or not.I did not give a full account of the situation because it was irrelevant to my request so nobody knows the details.The police did not stop because of where I was parked. They have been told to go there several times a week to police the situation which they believe is unpolicable. I regret mentioning it at all now as this does not help a consumer who believes she has been given an unfair parking ticket. If those of you who have replied lived next to my daughter's school I would happily discuss the matter with you as I believe a solution can be found to keep everyone happy. What I was hoping for was for some help from anyone in the know. As an update, my partner took our daughter to school this morning and saw 4 policemen around the school. When he referred to the police officer parking on a single yellow line the other day this policeman replied that he would have to report it. So clearly it is understood by the police that it is not on. Following his conversation I realise now I need to take it up with the council as the police seem to be helpless but within that are acting unreasonably. What does not seem to be recognised is it has actually become more dangerous since the excessive restrictions have been put in place in spite of the police telling the council that it won't work.

 

But if anyone out there does know of the best route to fight this ticket please let me know.

[buzby]

How can you fight something that is unwinnable? Despite your angst, a car can only be oh the road, anywhere else is fair game. The 'schools' issue is irrelevant, and whilst it is useful mitigation, nothing more. Since there is no ability to vary the fine because of the mitigation, you're stuffed.

[letshelp]

How can you fight something that is unwinnable? Despite your angst, a car can only be oh the road, anywhere else is fair game. The 'schools' issue is irrelevant, and whilst it is useful mitigation, nothing more. Since there is no ability to vary the fine because of the mitigation, you're stuffed.

Say what you mean Ray don't hold back:grin:

regards

[green_and_mean]

This was not meant to start a polemic regarding parking near schools or not.I did not give a full account of the situation because it was irrelevant to my request so nobody knows the details.The police did not stop because of where I was parked. They have been told to go there several times a week to police the situation which they believe is unpolicable. I regret mentioning it at all now as this does not help a consumer who believes she has been given an unfair parking ticket. If those of you who have replied lived next to my daughter's school I would happily discuss the matter with you as I believe a solution can be found to keep everyone happy. What I was hoping for was for some help from anyone in the know. As an update, my partner took our daughter to school this morning and saw 4 policemen around the school. When he referred to the police officer parking on a single yellow line the other day this policeman replied that he would have to report it. So clearly it is understood by the police that it is not on. Following his conversation I realise now I need to take it up with the council as the police seem to be helpless but within that are acting unreasonably. What does not seem to be recognised is it has actually become more dangerous since the excessive restrictions have been put in place in spite of the police telling the council that it won't work.

 

But if anyone out there does know of the best route to fight this ticket please let me know.

 

Have you thought of driving into the school itself you could park in the playground saving you even more walking and its private property so you cannot get ticketed? It must be very frustrating having restrictions placed outside the school and its obviously some Council do gooder trying to prevent children getting run over without realising parents will now have to park a few streets away and walk a few hundred metres creating a great deal of inconvenience. I would also write to the local Police and point out that they should not be wasting valuable Police time trying to prevent kids from getting run over by cars driving along verges if the child is that stupid he/she cannot see a car driving along the footway surely they deserve to be run over.

[buzby]

Say what you mean Ray don't hold back:grin:

regards

 

Heck, I though it was a bit wooly myself...

[Prawns25]

I think this is a terrible response from the police! Had you got your park anywhere lights on? One solution that some parents have adopted is to use a large FWD. It is within the basic design capabilities of the vehicle to park off road so no offence is committed.

With a general election looming I would certainly take the mater up with your MP. A situation were vehicles can’t go off road and pedestrians, especially children, can’t safely walk IN the road is intolerable.

[dx100uk]

Have you thought of driving into the school itself you could park in the playground saving you even more walking and its private property so you cannot get ticketed? It must be very frustrating having restrictions placed outside the school and its obviously some Council do gooder trying to prevent children getting run over without realising parents will now have to park a few streets away and walk a few hundred metres creating a great deal of inconvenience. I would also write to the local Police and point out that they should not be wasting valuable Police time trying to prevent kids from getting run over by cars driving along verges if the child is that stupid he/she cannot see a car driving along the footway surely they deserve to be run over.

 

couldn't agree more

 

well said.

 

some people just don't get it do they.........

 

dx

[dx100uk]

IHad you got your park anywhere lights on?

 

 

ah ofcourse

 

thats what it was.

 

they didn't have their hazard flashers going!!

 

 

dx

[natalie]

I live 2 miles away from my children's school (5 year old twins) and parking is a nightmare there too.... so we cycle, or if its raining we drive to the local Tescos (about 15 minute walk) and walk from there.

 

I'm sorry but I dont think you will be able to fight the ticket successfully, and actually I dont think you should unless there is a reason why you had to park so close to the school, like either you or one of your children is disabled and unable to walk very far.

[Prawns25]

Good point! The disability situation should be considered. If this does not apply then I would still pursue on the ‘OR unable to walk very far’ grounds.

[dx100uk]

Good point! The disability situation should be considered. If this does not apply then I would still pursue on the ‘OR unable to walk very far’ grounds.

 

no, all those type of people cant park close by 'cause of these idiots!

still not any excuse for parking on the verge anyhow.

 

 

dx

[Prawns25]

no, all those type of people cant park close by 'cause of these idiots!

still not any excuse for parking on the verge anyhow.

 

 

dx

 

O' well, that's my ideas gone then

[natalie]

I cant see a reason for being unable to walk a short distance to the school other than disability tbh.

[Prawns25]

I cant see a reason for being unable to walk a short distance to the school other than disability tbh.

 

Me neither, but it does seem a major problem for some folks.

 

Well done for teaching your twins how to ride bikes btw.

[letshelp]

Green and Mean & DX, please no more, I've spilt my tea now.

regards

[kkr]

OK holier than thou walkers to school. I'll fight my own battles in future and won't waste my time posting on a site that I thought was set up for helping consumers. How wrong was I.... Seems like nobody can resist piping up with a point of view without actually helping. Thanks to those who refrained from the sarcasm and unhelpful comments.

[dx100uk]

sorry no.

cag is for helping people where they have been wrongly done over by the system, we don't condone avoidance of just deserves through one's own selfish actions.

 

dx

Edited March 4, 2010 by dx100uk