What's the thoughts here ?
A small Retail area which has a sign about 4 metres up on a wall advising that it is a Private Carpark and a PCN will be given if there isn't a permit to park.
I didn't leave my van or even switch the engine off and a undercover agent of the Parking Enforcement company handed me a ticket, all I did was enter and turn around straight away, I was stationary for about 90 seconds.
Should I pay the £75 fine?
Parking Fine - Private Carpark
Parking Fine - Private Carpark
Gazza
"Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car, oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car. Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall and torque is how far you take the wall with you"
Z3 S54 M roadster
, BMW Z1, BMW M3 CSL, Z4M Coupe
"Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car, oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car. Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall and torque is how far you take the wall with you"
Z3 S54 M roadster
, BMW Z1, BMW M3 CSL, Z4M Coupe
Absolutely not, on principal. Parking is a civil matter, and if taken to court, I would say you have to be given time to read the signs before deciding whether to leave your vehicle there. You rightly decided not to park and were attempting to leave when accosted by what I am increasingly taking to call an extortionist, and at the very least, a scammer. They should not be allowed to get away with this - they try it because there are plenty of people willing to pay up when threatened in this way. You might also like to report them to trading standards/Watchdog.
Cheers R.
Cheers R.
Arctic Silver '99 Z3 1.9 & Black '59 Frogeye 1275cc
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Malcolm E Zed
- Joined: Mon 15 Feb, 2010 19:57
- Posts: 490
- Location: Manchester
Ignore it.
Seriously, I had a ticket like this before Christmas. It is a civil matter and if they take you to court the judge can only award them the costs of how much they would be out of pocket for you not paying to park or overstaying the period. this sum is likely to be a couple of quid so they don't bother doing so. As it costs them more than it is worth.
If anything else happens and they do go to court (highly unlikely) then say you were not driving and you are not a t liberty to divulge who was. they can't make you as it is a civil matter not a criminal one.
So ultimately just ignore it and any threats that come your way.
I had three letters which stopped ages ago.
Seriously, I had a ticket like this before Christmas. It is a civil matter and if they take you to court the judge can only award them the costs of how much they would be out of pocket for you not paying to park or overstaying the period. this sum is likely to be a couple of quid so they don't bother doing so. As it costs them more than it is worth.
If anything else happens and they do go to court (highly unlikely) then say you were not driving and you are not a t liberty to divulge who was. they can't make you as it is a civil matter not a criminal one.
So ultimately just ignore it and any threats that come your way.
I had three letters which stopped ages ago.
My thoughts were to ignore it and the subsequent letters should they arrive.
Just needed a little reassurance that I was doing the right thing
Just needed a little reassurance that I was doing the right thing
Gazza
"Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car, oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car. Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall and torque is how far you take the wall with you"
Z3 S54 M roadster, BMW Z1, BMW M3 CSL, Z4M Coupe
"Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car, oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car. Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall and torque is how far you take the wall with you"
Z3 S54 M roadster
, BMW Z1, BMW M3 CSL, Z4M Coupe
I found a piece of paper left under my wiper when I returned that said 'Parking Fine'
I thought it was a compliment.......
I thought it was a compliment.......
Z3 2.8 Progress Journal (Mine)
Z3 1.9 Sport Progress Journal (Wifey's)
I have an element of 'M-styling' on my car, If that's a good enough reason for the manufacturers to adorn a 320 with the M badge, then its certainly a good enough reason for me..
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simonbud100
- Joined: Tue 09 Feb, 2010 22:39
- Posts: 204
- Location: Swansea
As its a civil matter they need to prove balane of probability that you were going to park there. If your engine was running then there is no evidence to suggest that this was the case.
IF you get a letter from them, be sure to reply and invite them to take you to court, they know that they will not win so will drop the case.
IF you get a letter from them, be sure to reply and invite them to take you to court, they know that they will not win so will drop the case.
Read this thread to understand why you don't have to pay:
http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=20991
In simple terms its a civil not a criminal offence (unlike a council car park or highways) and so is a breach of contract between the person dirving the car and the car park operator.
The important thing is that it is the DRIVER and not owner of the vehicle who has breached the contract. The parking operator has to prove who was driving at the time. They can find out who is the owner from the DVLA but you just deny driving it at the time. They will say you legally hav to tell them who was driving but that is bullsh!t, they are not the police and you do not need to tell them anything. Just threaten them with harrassment if they write to you.
Since my incident I now run a couple of private car parks myself so am on the other side of the fence so to speak. I woud never condone knowingly parking in a private car park and not paying a fair price but its these unfair unproportionate fines that annoy me and the reason I did not pay a few years ago.
http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=20991
In simple terms its a civil not a criminal offence (unlike a council car park or highways) and so is a breach of contract between the person dirving the car and the car park operator.
The important thing is that it is the DRIVER and not owner of the vehicle who has breached the contract. The parking operator has to prove who was driving at the time. They can find out who is the owner from the DVLA but you just deny driving it at the time. They will say you legally hav to tell them who was driving but that is bullsh!t, they are not the police and you do not need to tell them anything. Just threaten them with harrassment if they write to you.
Since my incident I now run a couple of private car parks myself so am on the other side of the fence so to speak. I woud never condone knowingly parking in a private car park and not paying a fair price but its these unfair unproportionate fines that annoy me and the reason I did not pay a few years ago.
