Parking fine ‘mean’ says upset Bradford pensioner (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Parking fine ‘mean’ says upset Bradford pensioner
9:00am Monday 15th October 2012 in News
Joan Smith at the unused bus stop
Pensioner Joan Smith has accused over-zealous traffic wardens of “putting the kibosh” on her bid to stay active after giving her a ticket for parking at an out-of-use bus stop.
Mrs Smith had been to a photography class at Bradford College’s Trident Building in Little Horton when she discovered the £70 penalty notice stuck on her windscreen – despite her displaying her disabled parking badge.
She had parked her Vauxhall Astra at the disused stop in Park Lane on double yellow lines because there was nowhere else to go, as the four disabled parking bays at the college were full.
Mrs Smith said: “It just seems mean to me. There wasn’t anywhere else for me to park and I’ve got heart problems and I can’t walk far at all. I saw a sign stuck over the bus stop post clearly saying ‘bus stop not in use’ so I believed I was perfectly entitled to leave the car there. It’s a wide road and I wasn’t causing a nuisance to anyone.”
Disabled parking badge holders can park legally on double yellow lines for up to three hours as long as they do not cause any obstructions.
Although the guidelines say badge holders must not park at bus stops or a bus stop clearway, the rule only applies when the stops are operational.
Mrs Smith, of Glendale Drive, Wibsey, said: “There were no hours of operation going on at the time because the sign was up saying ‘bus stop not in use’. That makes it obvious I was in the right. I try to be a decent citizen and would not dream of doing anything that was wrong. I would not have done it if I thought I was going to put anyone at risk or break the law.
“My course is only for ten weeks and this was just the third one. If I can’t get a disabled space and can’t park anywhere nearby, I just won’t be able to go anymore. I like to get out and about because it helps keeps me stay active, but someone doing something as mean as this really puts the kibosh on it all.”
Bradford Council parking services co-ordinator Paul Ratcliffe said: “We cannot comment on individual cases, but if anyone feels they have wrongly received a parking ticket they should contact us directly and we will consider the case.”
Comments(16)
mr-mixalot
says...
10:10am Mon 15 Oct 12
wobbley-bob wrote:Don't forget Duckworth Lane especially near the hospital
Targeting the disabled.....sounds about right for this pathetic Council.
How about sending their over-zealous traffic wardens onto Toller lane, Barkerend, Leeds Rd etc. They could ticket many dozens of proper parking violations then......... No, thought not.
ertnec
says...
10:13am Mon 15 Oct 12
its about time we see more cars being taken and crushed if for what any reason there breaking the law this would sort out the Areas like toller lane, barkerend , leeds road etc
vax2002
says...
10:47am Mon 15 Oct 12
Any restriction enforced under traffic management act 2004 requires a traffic regulation order.
You can bet your hind teeth they wont have one for the bust stop.
Albion.
says...
11:08am Mon 15 Oct 12
wobbley-bob wrote:True, there are plenty of places where parked cars cause disruption to both pedestrians and other motorists, there are also plenty of motorists ignoring traffic lights and one way systems.
Targeting the disabled.....sounds about right for this pathetic Council.
How about sending their over-zealous traffic wardens onto Toller lane, Barkerend, Leeds Rd etc. They could ticket many dozens of proper parking violations then......... No, thought not.
parader no1
says...
11:40am Mon 15 Oct 12
ertnec wrote:Just for information my friend, it is not the bus company`s job to remove or erect bus stops, it`s Metro`s
Come on blame Bradford Council again, I do feel for this lady but its not just the Council its so many other agencies like the bus company who should remove old bus stops, people really annoy me YES Bradford Council is not perfect we all know that but we vote these people on to the Council. YES I do agree other areas need sorting But did you see the amount of parking fines Bradford Council right off because there can't find the owners.
its about time we see more cars being taken and crushed if for what any reason there breaking the law this would sort out the Areas like toller lane, barkerend , leeds road etc
Bacon Bantam
says...
11:43am Mon 15 Oct 12
vax2002 wrote:On that basis, they could ticket every car where ever it was parked be legally or illegally and just leave it in the hands of the car owner to appeal.
She can quite easily appeal this . Any restriction enforced under traffic management act 2004 requires a traffic regulation order. You can bet your hind teeth they wont have one for the bust stop.
It's what they have already done with the bus lane diversion. Instead of cancelling all tickets on the days of the diversion when cars were forced into the bus lane, they left it to the car owners to appeal, when sense dictates void all fines for that period.
Guilty till proven otherwise in this councils case.
I had to laugh this weekend seeing all these council wardens out and about, just call them traffic wardens and have done with it because all they were doing were ticketing cars, I asked one where the nearest public toilets were and he just looked at me blankly. Council wardens in name, traffic wardens in reality.
Prisoner Cell Block A
says...
12:40pm Mon 15 Oct 12
Oink Oink Mr Green and Co.
Apollo
says...
1:28pm Mon 15 Oct 12
yezboss
says...
1:30pm Mon 15 Oct 12
vax2002 wrote:Yes, appeal this, in the first instance make an 'informal challenge'' to Parking Services. A simple letter is all that is required. If that is not successful make a 'formal challenge' same letter just says it not going away. Parking services then must either cancel the Penatly Charge Notice or send Traffic Penalty Appeal forms. If so then submit those papers which are quite simple to complete to the Adjudicator. That can be pursued if they still do not relent by either telephone, web form or by personal appearance at a local centre, usually a hotel room. I recommend the latter as it makes arrogant councils appear personally themselves. As far as the TRO is concerned it may well be there is not one, but even if there is and it is no longer required the Council is guilty of 'failing to maintain' the signs Contrary to Regulation 18 of the Local Authorities (TRO) Maintenance Regs. I cannot foresee any Adjudicator not allowing such an appeal if the Council do not relent. And he may lambast them for not doing so. This costs nothing, if an appellant loses they only pay the original maximum fine unles the Adjudicator dictates otherwise. I would have expected though Bradford Parking Services having learned of this to have exercised their discretion and have cancelled this already if they cared, but there again, perhaps not!
She can quite easily appeal this .
Any restriction enforced under traffic management act 2004 requires a traffic regulation order.
You can bet your hind teeth they wont have one for the bust stop.
As far as the Civil Enforcement Officer (council warden) they have no discretion or brains I am sorry to say. Not too long ago they issued a PCN to a vehicle which had run away and was 'parked' on the footway in contact with a street furniture pole. Clearly not parked there!!! I simply despair at times with this office. They seem to ignore the obvious and challenging targets and go for the weakest and most easy ones. The main problem is this law does not require that CEO to be called to give evidence, if they were they might think a little. The only legislation I am aware of where the 'prosecutor' is able to avoid cross examination on oath in a court of law.
ANY WHERE BUT HERE
says...
2:00pm Mon 15 Oct 12
vax2002
says...
2:01pm Mon 15 Oct 12
I hear they are told not to ticket people at Friday prayers ?
Bacon Bantam
says...
2:15pm Mon 15 Oct 12
Apollo wrote:The thing is, you shouldn't have to waste time appealing it in the first place, as it should never have been issued.
Appeal it. It will be thown out. Simple.
I could park my car in your driveway and you would be in your right to ask me to shift my car, but the simple matter is my car shouldn't have been there so you shouldn't have had to go to the trouble to get me to move it.
Sally Way
says...
8:37am Tue 16 Oct 12
vax2002 wrote:What a stupid comment to suggest that our wardens are briefed not ticket Muslim owned cars.
Has anybody EVER seen them dishing out parking tickets at Friday Prayers when dozens of cars are abandoned all over kerbs, verges, yellow lines. I hear they are told not to ticket people at Friday prayers ?
It's these kind of suggestions that cause unrest. If you don't have anything good to say button it.
Albion.
says...
10:07am Tue 16 Oct 12
Sally Way wrote:It is a problem though in some places.
vax2002 wrote:What a stupid comment to suggest that our wardens are briefed not ticket Muslim owned cars.
Has anybody EVER seen them dishing out parking tickets at Friday Prayers when dozens of cars are abandoned all over kerbs, verges, yellow lines. I hear they are told not to ticket people at Friday prayers ?
It's these kind of suggestions that cause unrest. If you don't have anything good to say button it.
yezboss
says...
10:55am Tue 16 Oct 12
Sally Way wrote:It may interest you to know Sally about 2 years ago Bradford Council Parking Services did in fact cancel some £2000 worth of PCN's issued on a certain street or streets outside or adjacent to a certain place of worship in Bradford, that being in BD3, on a certain day, that being a Friday. These were for allegedly parking against the restrictions of a TRO or TRO's Now if that TRO was unlawful or they were wrongly issued or someone decided this was not a good idea I know not. I can't give you any more details than that.
vax2002 wrote:What a stupid comment to suggest that our wardens are briefed not ticket Muslim owned cars.
Has anybody EVER seen them dishing out parking tickets at Friday Prayers when dozens of cars are abandoned all over kerbs, verges, yellow lines. I hear they are told not to ticket people at Friday prayers ?
It's these kind of suggestions that cause unrest. If you don't have anything good to say button it.
wobbley-bob says...
9:09am Mon 15 Oct 12
How about sending their over-zealous traffic wardens onto Toller lane, Barkerend, Leeds Rd etc. They could ticket many dozens of proper parking violations then......... No, thought not.