Unfair Parking Fine?

[andy121]

i got a parking fine in Devon last week because my ticket fell out of the car before i closed it (I place them on the dash board rather than stick them down) and of course I didn't realise until I got back and found a fine waiting for me. Despite finding the valid ticket and claiming against the fine, I was told that as it wasn't visable i had to pay the �30 any way. I think this is really unfair and wonder if i should push it further or I don't have any legal chance not to pay it?

[Ewood27]

I suspect the penalty is for not displaying a valid parking ticket, rather than for not having one. I think it's going to cost you �30. Sorry! I agree it's unfair, but they've set things up so that they can sting you any way they can.

[Doolallygirl]

I've been in the same position as you when my ticket blew to be face down as I closed the door. The attendant clearly could see I had a ticket but as they couldn't see the correct date/time they issued a ticket anyway. I got away with it cos I sent the ticket in and begged but I don't think they were obliged to listen to me or let me off the fine. Think you might have to just pay this one and stick them down firmly in the future. By all means the price of the ticket will go up and up if you don't pay it while you fight your case so it could end up a very expensive battle. It's entirely up to you.

[pinus]

Just as you are required to *display* your road tax disc, not merely *have* one

[andy hughes]

It's always worth a try on a 'nothing to loose' basis - write a very polite letter advising that you are aware you should have stuck the ticket down, and you always will in future, that kind of thing - it may work. If it doesn't you are where you are now - owing �30 and feeling pretty miffed, so have a go and see if it works.

[smudge]

I have been in a similar situation to you. My parking ticket slipped down the side of the dash board after locking my car. On return I had a parking fine stuck to the window. I appealed & the fine was cancelled, but then that would depend of the mood of the ticket office clerk or council!

[trilobite]

It's a bit late now, as you seem to have admitted that the ticket was 'not displayed', however, I have got off a couple of fines by claiming that the ticket was 'clearly displayed', but that your attendant 'seems to have ignored it', copy enclosed etc. etc.
This seems to work when the Terms & Conditions do not explicitly say that the ticket must be displayed in the windscreen, as then you can say you stuck it on a side window etc.
I have even gone scratting round the car park looking for a discarded ticket that covers the period that I was parked and received the ticket!!

[becks]

I once bought a ticket but put it in my handbag and took it to london with me, which was helpful as my car remained parked at the station. got back had a clamp, paid to have it taken off, then told the council what had happened and they reimbursed me... but i did cry like girl.

[RogerK]

I agree with the polite grovelling approach first. If that fails and the fine was issued by a local council you could adopt the risky approach of not paying - the logic behaind this is that they might decide that it would cost them more to chase you for it than they'd make. Don't blame me if it doesn't work, mind!

[Mattk]

personally i wouldnt pay the fine as it is unjust.they are being jobworths about the whole thing - fight the power and u will prevail !

[apricot]

Try complaining bitterly about the glue on the ticket. I've known that to work.

[rjcb23]

yes, glue is a good one. I got a fine cos my ticket had fallen of in the seering heat of summer. i complained that i had a valid ticket and that it had come unstuck cos of the heat in the car. they let me off although told me i should "make sure that it adheres better in future" - cheeky *******!