Since the 1990s where parking control powers have been allotted to the local councils away from the police, there has been a sharp increase in the issuing of parking tickets and more people appealing against them.
In the aftermath of decriminalization, many seem to believe that parking ticket issuance is nothing but an avenue of revenue generation and infact the huge increase in the numbers of the same tends to corroborate the very fact.
Various reasons work behind parking ticket appeal including the fact that the sheer amount of the parking fine has also shot up in recent times.
A good idea would be to just go ahead and appeal your parking ticket if you think you did not have any fault. Chances are that the local council representative would not even turn up for the event and 50% motorists anyways win such appeals.
Having said all this, it is also pertinent to mention at this point that parking tickets have certain importance in keeping the streets clean of utter chaos. Moreover, without the revenue generated from fine amounts, there was a chance of the tax slabs getting increased since the local councils would have to run on a minimum budget otherwise.
Though this is the original theory behind parking ticket concept and parking fines charged against law breaks, the real picture shows numerous traffic wardens who are pressurized into issue the maximum tickets possible so as to boost local revenue by the parking fines.
A motorist should always look out for street signs or road markings before parking in a public car park or on a public road. Especially if he is unsure about the place, it is better not to park there than risk being charged a heft parking ticket amount and the subsequent effort for appealing for it.
Writing a simple and basic letter to the local council is all there is to appealing a parking ticket, which is otherwise thought to be a hard task. Infact, so much so, that 90% of all drivers go ahead by paying the fine instead of appealing.
Is drafting a short letter or email so much of a hassle? Specially when it can save 30 120 pounds? Most drivers do not realize how easy it is to draft a letter. Moreover, there exists online companies who can explain the entire process to you or even sites who offer appeal templates or write the letter for you.
Photographic evidence works best while you strive to prove that the issued parking ticket is invalid. With the evidence, either you show that you didnt commit the act or show that due to the non-existence of proper parking signboard you got confused and committed the offence. Moreover, since two-thirds of all tickets issued are illegal in nature, remember that the issuer has high chance of winning an appeal.
Other than using evidences gathered from photographa one can also use a technicality mentioned on the parking ticket itself. Basic technicalities are all to do with what is written on the parking ticket. Suppose if one got it saying that you were parked in Smith Street when in fact you were parked in Smith Road, in that case you can possibly argue that its incorrect and this incident did not even occur. This gives you a high chance of winning the parking ticket appeal.
If you get a parking tickets privately which is identical to the normal tickets that traffic wardens hand you and even issued in a similar manner, you can be sure that it is a private parking tickets, a relative new concept. These tickets generally ask you to pay a certain amount of money within a particular date along with a slight threat for failure therein.
It is a good idea to dismiss such private parking tickets as these are nothing but empty threats since these tickets are not issued legally. Its more of an invoice than an actual ticket and if you write to them for appeal they will always turn you down.
As an example, the name of Euro Car Parks comes to mind that has never ever been heard to take someone to court for defaulting in fine payment.
If they at all take you to court there would be couple of things that hey would have to prove. While firstly they need to prove that you are their registered keeper secondly they need to prove that you were driving at that point of time. The first option being needed to show you as a party to their contract (entering their car park means you have to be in contract with them). Even if they can do all this, they will only be entitled to a mere 2 pounds for an hours extra parking.
Just ignore such parking invoices and they will gradually disappear. Before they do, they will send you several threatening letters but never let these make you pay them. Infact you can also write to them threatening court action if they do not stop such harassment.
Thus, as a conclusion it can be said that you have a good chance of winning your appeal against unfair parking charges and you must never pay fines without trying. Visit the website below for help and advice.