A couple of weeks ago I was collecting a parcel from a shop in Queen St, Newton Abbot. Couldn't get in the marked "Loading Only" bay as it had 2 cars in it
Pulled up right behind the bay and on the kerb was a line meaning "no loading/stopping". Behind that is a taxi bay and as I've no intention of winding up cabbies by parking in their bays I left the van for 5 minutes whilst I collected the parcel and did the paperwork. Came out to find a ticket on the van. Bear in mind that this was a delivery vehicle in company livery - not just a plain white van.
On reading the ticket it appears the jobsworth "observed" the van for one minute (15:43 to 15:43) before issuing the ticket. I thought that any vehicle had to be seen to be violating the law by 5 minutes before a ticket was issued. In fact, when I pointed out to another warden in Torquay that cars were blocking the loading bays illegally I was told by him that he needed to observe them for 5 minutes before he could do anything.
I have already challenged the ticket and was told that as I had parked in a no loading area it was tough. I can wait for a formal notice to be issued but then I have to pay the full £70 rather than the £35 I can pay if done within 14 days.
My question is - was the attendant correct in only observing my van for one minute before issuing a ticket?
Anyone had a run-in with the parking military and won??
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Caution - the poster may well have been drinking........
I'd pay the £35 and and just rant on this forum. We all understand and simpathize but if they've said no at the first try, it will just cost more if you pursue it.
First one I've had for a while and I successfully argued against the last one as the "permit holders only" sign was incorrectly positioned.
As more and more kerb space is being designated "no stopping" (especially in Torquay town centre) we are increasingly having to use loading bays and it boils my urine to see cars in them
Next time I will double park them and hold up the whole street. That then, I believe, becomes a police matter and I should be gone way before plod ever gets to the scene
Apologies in advance for anyone getting caught up in the traffic jam......but I ain't paying £35 every time I need to work and someone prevents me by sheer bloody laziness.
Not that I'm bitter, y'understand
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Caution - the poster may well have been drinking........
