Support your local PARKING ATTENDANT. (Parking Fines and Clamping)

Member Name: mattygroves10

Product:	Parking Fines and Clamping
Date:	05/12/05 (3072 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Park sensibly to avoid a parking ticket . . .

Disadvantages: . . . . . . and be kind to your local parking enforcement official. You may need his help one day

Parking attendants (PAs) (the 'proper' term for a non-police employed traffic enforcement officer or warden) aren't the most popular of people. They are perceived to be jumped up little hitlers who feel big and powerful because they wear a uniform and wield a ticket machine. And yes, there are bad, nasty little PAs out there.

Parking fines are seen as an easy way to generate cash for a spendthrift council, at the expense of the poor, hard done by motorist. The perception seems to be that most parking tickets are unnecessary and unfair. And yes, some parking restrictions do seem pointless, when cars parked in a specific area are not causing an obstruction. And yes, parking fines ARE an important source of revenue for councils.

However, the role of the PA isn't specifically to make your life miserable or difficult. It is not to make motoring in towns impossible. It is not to meet a quota, nor to bring in a bonus. In fact, parking attendants are appallingly paid (no commission, generally - at least not in my borough in south west London). They are regularly subject to abuse, both verbal and physical. They have to wear an ugly and uncomfortable uniform. Hardly a week goes by without some report of a 'traffic warden' being assaulted or otherwise harassed.

The BBC sent a reporter undercover as a PA in London - the report on the experience is here http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/london/series8/week _eight_three.shtml . The reporter "continues to be abused, as he explains, 'Moments later and I am on the receiving end of yet more abuse. A man under the influence of alcohol says all parking attendants are scum. He also claims that being a parking attendant is not a proper job. The strange thing is the man in question does not even have a car. He has just decided to insult me for the hell of it. I try to reason with him but give up when his comments turn racist.'"

Remember, PAs are on the street. They are eyes and ears. The PA of my acquaintance has, amongst other things, returned lost property (keys, an art portfolio, wallets), reported cars that had been broken into, witnessed crimes and reported them, given directions to lost motorists and pedestrians and, of course, issued tickets. But how do you avoid receiving a ticket?

I suppose this isn't going to be terribly useful to people that a) don't drive in the UK; b) don't drive in London. Furthermore, specific parking regulations and methods of enforcement vary from area to area. The pointers I'm about to give are particularly relevant to parts of West London - however, the basic guidelines should follow. It is important to note that the borough in which I live does not clamp (though there are private clamping companies that operate on private property).

I know a TRAFFIC WARDEN (well, he's actually called a 'parking attendant', and I'm actually married to him) (cue dramatic, dark music here). I therefore know something about parking tickets. This also doesn't make this person terribly popular, but there you go. I'm here to fix that.

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AVOIDANCE
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Well, the obvious tip is simply not to park illegally. So don't park on double yellow lines pretty much ever, don't park on single yellow lines when you're not supposed to, don't overstay your welcome at a pay and display car park, and make sure you buy a ticket etc. However, we are not perfect! So:

1. BE QUICK: For many minor parking offences (that's when you're not causing an obstruction, when you're not parked on a zebra crossing, when you're not parked in a red route etc), a traffic warden should observe your car for five minutes before he (or she) can issue a ticket. Furthermore, there are certain circumstances where you may stop briefly so long as you are engaged in a permitted activity (i.e. loading or unloading - not buying fags from the local shop!)

In some Pay and Display car parks, you have often have a (admittedly discretionary) 'grace period' of around five minutes - but I wouldn't count on this. There is nothing in law or regulation to prevent the PA from issuing the ticket within seconds of the time running out.

2. LOADING AND UNLOADING - some single (and even double) yellow lines will still allow you to load and unload your car (check the little sign that should be on a nearby lamppost). However - you must be seen to be loading and/or unloading, and there is usually a time limit in place that tells you how long you can do this for.

3. READ THE TIME PLATE - that's the little sign that should be nearby on a lamp post. Especially on single yellow lines, you can park there at certain times, of which this sign will enlighten you. If you can't find it, that's often the council's problem - not yours (as long as you're not causing an obstruction - be sensible!)

4. BE NICE - it's a myth (at least in our bit of SW London) that 'once the guy (or gal) starts writing the ticket, he (or she) has to give it to you'. The ticket isn't officially issued until an attempt has been made to either hand it to you or put it on your car. Note the word ATTEMPT. You can't get out of it by refusing to take it though! The nicer you are (within reason), the more likely you are to not be given the ticket. Don't be obnoxious - remember, you can always appeal!

5. DON'T COUNT on being able to park illegally - if you really want to be safe, park where you're allowed to, and if you're expected to pay for parking, do!

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GROUNDS FOR APPEAL
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Many appeals succeed because it may be assumed that if you can be bothered to make a fuss, you must have reason. If you feel the ticket was issued in error, appeal it! The worst that can happen is you'll have to pay it, which is where you started anyway. In my corner of SW London, the fine is halved if you pay it within 14 days; it must be paid within 28 days. Note that the full amount of the fine is halved, NOT that the fine doubles (so here where I am, the fine is £60. If it is paid within 14 days it is reduced to £30).

1. You can't find the time-plate (and closing your eyes so you don't have to look at it doesn't count!) (If you happen to have a camera on you, taking a picture of your car and the lack of time-plate may help) AND the double yellow lines aren't valid 24 hours AND the lines are not within a CPZ (controlled parking zone - usually for resident permit holders)

2. The pay-and-display machine or meter was broken (and not broken by you) AND you have not overstayed the maximum time normally allowed in that space AND there is nothing around to indicate you can't park there (at the new electronic meters you can't park there if they're broken, because they're too easy to break. On purpose.).

3. The yellow lines are so faded that you REALLY can't see them. Again, ignoring them doesn't count!

4. Your car had broken down AND you left a note AND you didn't leave your car there for more than about 2 hours AND you're not causing an obstruction AND the breakdown was caused by 'unforeseeable' circumstance (running out of petrol, for example, is considered foreseeable, whilst a flat tire is not). It is at the council's discretion, however, whether to grant the appeal.

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PLACES NOT TO PARK EVER!!
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- School crossings (during term time and specified hours)
- Red routes
- Level (RR) crossings (obvious one - unless you WANT to be hit by a train!)
- Zebra (pedestrian) crossings
- Illegally in front of a police station (another obvious one).
- With one or more wheels on a curb UNLESS the signs or road markings specifically instruct you to do so.

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OTHER POINTERS for those not used to parking in London (or, for that matter, in Britain)
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- Unlike in many parts of the States, in most two way roads in London, you can park facing either way.

- As mentioned above, some parking spaces on a road are specifically designed to have you park with two wheels on the pavement. This will be signed, and the white lines indicating the space in this case will themselves be partly on the pavement.

- There are few free car parks in London. You have to pay for most public car parks. Car parks attached to big supermarkets or OUT OF TOWN shopping centres are often free, but those in a town centre usually make you pay.

- A badge indicating you have a disability (they used to be orange, but are now blue) allows you to park in many places (single yellow lines, for example), but usually for only a couple of hours. It is prudent to check the regulations where you live before abandoning your car on a double yellow line causing an obstruction. This does NOT apply on red-routes.

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FINAL THOUGHTS
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Parking does seem to be an emotive topic (which is quite surprising, really - surely there are more important things to get upset about). Most people only become aware of PAs when they are about to get a ticket. However, if you park sensibly, remain calm and polite you are likely to at least be less stressed, and possibly less out of pocket. If the PA really IS rude to you, or abusive, take a note of the PA's number (usually located on the shoulder epaulets) and report them. Please, for my sake, don't hit, strike, throw anything or otherwise abuse your local traffic warden. He may be my husband!

Summary: Parking fines are avoidable (largely by parking legally) - traffic wardens aren't evil