Parking ticket, no yellow lines or kerb markings, advice please :-)

[Jayney1]

Hi I would like advice please.

 

Received a PCN in November in Coventry, first one ever in 25 years of driving, never intended to park illegally, road is in city centre where they have been doing a lot of roadworks, no yellow lines or kerb markings of any kind down quite a stretch of the road after resurfacing, it's a fairly quiet side road with some university offices, student accommodation and a sports centre and some shops.

 

So I parked there for an hour while I was at a lecture (I am a student). Came back to find a PCN, contravention (02) for parking or loading in a restricted street... which I didn't know was an offence if there were no double yellow lines or kerb markings..?

 

There was a sign further down 'No Loading' but attached underneath two sheets of A4 paper with lots of small print, ok I didn't read it, who would. I honestly just went on the lack of lines would mean it was fine!

 

Anyway my appeal was refused as they (the council) said 'There is no requirement for road markings on this road. There was a sign two metres away indicating the restriction in force' (that is the sign I mentioned with 2 pages of small print stuck underneath).

 

I am genuinely considerate driving or when parking. Never had a fine/ticket in 25 years. Is there a requirement for road markings and/or kerb markings to back this sign up? Would I have grounds to appeal further as the signage was not clear (i.e. with the 2 pages of small print attached).?? Any help appreciated as I have now had a letter from a Baliff company about it.

 

I have several photos I took of the whole scene including that of the sign. I would put them up here if there was a way to do it, is there?

 

Thanks a lot.

[sailor sam]

It's probably within a restricted zone if it's in the city center which means that no yellow lines are required.

 

Please Note

 

The advice I offer will be based on the information given by the person needing it. All my advice is based on my experiences and knowledge gained in working in the motor and passenger transport industries in various capacities. Although my advice will always be sincere, it should be used as guidence only.

 

I would always urge to seek face to face professional advice for clarification prior to taking any action.

 

Please click my reputation 'star' button at the bottom of my profile window on the left if you found my advice useful.

[cybn]

Since parking offences were decriminalised, local authorities have used parking tickets as an easy way to generate additional revenue. It is a modern racket, bordering on extortion. Despite Councils being admonished from the chief parking adjudicator, Caroline Sheppard, for operating a zero tolerance policy, parking tickets continue to be issued like confetti (year on year "earnings" continue to increase). Curiously, it is not in the Council's interest for people to "reform" and mend their bad parking ways. Revenue must be generated at all costs. That is why perfectly safe, careful, experienced motorists are being caught up in nightmares such as yours. The whole nation is being fleeced. And the local authority effectively acts as judge jury and executioner, though, of course, an appeal is allowed. Only a tiny minority contest, which suits the Councils perfectly. The whole business stinks. As to practical advice, make sure you appeal ASAP, and contact your local MP.

[sailor sam]

And then there are those who never get a parking ticket... funny that isn't it? In any event there are certain parking offences which should be rigorously enforced... stopping on pedestrian zig zags, restricted bus stops, school entrance markings to name a few.

 

Please Note

The advice I offer will be based on the information given by the person needing it. All my advice is based on my experiences and knowledge gained in working in the motor and passenger transport industries in various capacities. Although my advice will always be sincere, it should be used as guidence only.

 

I would always urge to seek face to face professional advice for clarification prior to taking any action.

 

Please click my reputation 'star' button at the bottom of my profile window on the left if you found my advice useful.

[cybn]

Sailor Sam - I quite agree. Here is a superb example I witnessed myself a few months ago. One car, parked outside the dentist, harming no one, blocking no one, but ever so slightly creeping into the yellow lines. The driver, an elderly gent could not use the nearby car park as it was full. The next nearest park is a long way away. The second car is parked... in the middle of the road about 200 yards further down. The reason? A bunch of chavs want to talk to someone on the pavement. The parking warden on seeing this, turns the other way and tickets the first car. I waited a few minutes then approached the warden. "Did you see the car parked in the middle of the road?" Where? came the reply. "The one you deliberately ignored". Easy pickings.

[andy007007]

It is just to catch people out and make money. I parked where I do always, no yellow lines, got a ticket, appealed and they said I entered a Zone, so can't get a refund. It is ok for the traffic wardens to park on loading bays for 20 mins, I saw one and took photo's, why should they be allowed?