Penn's Blog
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An update on my recent parking fine
This seems to be the situation as it stands regarding the parking fine I received the other day. First thing I'm going to do is hold my hands up and admit that I was at fault when it came to display my blue badge, although I wasn't the person who put it back the wrong way around, I am the driver and owner of the blue badge so I am therefore responsible for it. I parked in the breakwater car park and I was under the impression that everything was in order, I was display my blue badge and valid parking permit. However, the traffic warden saw different and gave me a parking fine for "non-displayable of a valid parking ticket". Unfortunately for me it now seems that the ticket was issued correctly. People keep telling me that they have got to state clearly on my parking fine that the blue badge was not displayed correctly. Well it seems that this is not actually the case. I have a parking permit that I have to apply for every year. I am only able to use this parking permit alongside a valid blue badge. Therefore if the blue badge is not being displayed properly, the parking permit is looked upon as being in valid. Personally I think this is a little unfair as I am not able to apply for a parking permit unless I have a valid blue badge. However, this is the law, it's written down in black and white and there is no excuse for me not to display my blue badge correctly.
However, I do think that the reason given for me receiving the parking fine was somewhat misleading. At the time I was convinced that I had a valid parking permit, after all it's there in black and white on my windscreen. When I e-mailed the parking department they told me it was the inaccurate displaying of my blue badge which made the parking permit invalid. I absolutely think that this should have been made quite clear on by parking fine, however it wasn't and I've been led to believe that they don't have to do state the facts, they just tell you that you are displaying an invalid parking ticket/permit. I have made an appeal and I'm hoping that this very small misdemeanour will be overlooked and the parking fine will be cancelled, I can only hope for clemency.
So let this be a lesson for all of you who hold a blue badge, you must always display your blue badge at all times with the serial number facing outwards, if you don't then it might as well not be there, you will receive a parking fine. I must also add that it must be located on the passenger side just under the windscreen. Make sure it is straight as well, the traffic wardens will fine you if it is upside down, or even slanted to one side, they will categorically use any excuse to issue you with a parking fine so beware and don't take them for granted.. -
Invalid Parking Fine or Not?
A couple of weeks ago me and a friend went fishing at Brixham breakwater. A little later on in the day when the guys were here at the radio club, Derek noticed something at the bottom of my windscreen. It turned out to be a parking fine that I had received for apparently "parking in a pay and display car park and not displaying a valid parking ticket" I thought this rather strange since I have a parking permit that entitles me to park free of charge without having to purchase a parking ticket in all of Torbay's car parks, Brixham breakwater car park is a Torbay run car park. Anyway, I got straight on to the council's website and sent in an appeal against the parking fine. I received a letter from the council parking department informing me that in order for my appeal to the considered, I had to send in a copy of my blue badge. I really wasn't sure why they wanted to see my blue badge so I sent an e-mail complaining that the traffic warden had obviously made a mistake and had not seen my parking permit which is clearly visible on my windscreen. He then wrote back to me informing me that my parking permit is not valid because my blue badge was not being displayed properly. Absolutely ridiculous, I use the car parks on a regular basis, I have seen traffic wardens inspecting my permit and badge, this has never happened before.Now I've done some checking on the Internet and I'm sure I'm right in saying that the traffic warden should have clearly stated why he was administering a parking fine and not just stated that I was not displaying a valid parking ticket, when in fact there is a valid parking permit displayed clearly on my windscreen.
I am extremely angry, in fact I'm bloody well fuming about this. This is just a typical case of a council trying to pull a fast one and extort money out of someone who is doing nothing wrong. I always display my blue badge in my van, I have never received a parking fine in all my years of driving. These people have absolutely no compassion whatsoever, they don't seem to care who they are dealing with, what the situation of the driver happens to be, and how they deal with them.
Here is some information on that is relevant in my case and may help you. I obtained it from
They missed something off my ticket
There are certain details that a Penalty Charge Notice must contain. It is invalid if it fails to state any of the following:
- The reason for the ticket.
- The size of the fine
- A statement that the penalty must be paid within 28 days, beginning with the date of the Penalty Charge Notice.
- A statement that if the penalty is paid within 14 days starting from the date of the Penalty Charge Notice, the amount of the penalty will be reduced by a specified amount.
- A statement that if the penalty charge is not paid before the end of the 28 day period a Notice to Owner may be served by the local authority on the owner of the car.
- The address where the penalty charge must be sent.
If any of these are missing, you can appeal.
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-1708393/How-fight-parking-ticket.html
