Categories: uncategorized
Date: 15 February 2005 22:43:09
I am declaring war on my local council. Last August, I didn't get a parking ticket. I should have done, I know, because I was parked on a yellow line and I accept that. The thing is, I didn't get a ticket, because I sneaked back to my van while the parking attendant was busy chatting up a couple of girls on a nearby wall and didn't see me return until after I'd driven away.
If I'd got a ticket I would, of course, have paid it. But I didn't, so was rather miffed when a few months later I got a stroppy letter about the unpaid parking fine which had now doubled to £80 due to late payment. I appealed against this, pointing out that I had never ben issued with a ticket, backing this up with evideence from the "tracker" fitted to the van used to record all my jourrneys which proved that the notice was actually issued 5 minutes AFTER I had left the scene of the crime.
Today, I got a letter back telling me that my appeal has been rejected on the following grounds.
"The vehicle was parked in a restricted area" - OK, can't argue with that
"The vehicle was not loading or unloading" - fair enough
"All the windows were checked and the vehicle was not displaying a disabled badge" - nope, no arguments there either
"The attendant took photographs of the vehicle..." he may well have done, but,
"...and correctly issued the PCN and attached it to the windscreen". OH NO HE BLOODY WELL DIDN'T!! That's the whole point of my appeal!
Lambeth (for it is they) have graciously offered to let me pay at the original "discounted" rate which I would normally be happy to do, but if they're calling me a liar (which they appear to be), I'm not letting this one lay down and die. I'm sending this one to the independant adjudicator.
Watch this space.
Other stuff: Yesterday I applied for my Part 2 Instructor's test, which is the practical driving part, as my trainer reckons I'm ready to take it. The nearest date they can give me is 14th April, which is really frustrating having to wait two months. Oh well, I went ahead and booked it, and I'll just hope a cancellation comes up in the meantime.