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.
It can be said that in the aftermath of decriminalization, it is a common belief amidst people that the local councils are using parking tickets as a tool to generate revenue from parking fines.
Whats more, the huge increase in the parking fine amounts has also made parking ticket appeals more common in recent times.
It is essential you contest every parking ticket, especially if you feel you should not have been given it. The appeal against your parking ticket is very easy and around 50% of these appeals are granted quite easily. The council dont even bother to appear most of the time while these appeals are being considered.
The fact remains however is that if nobody is charged with parking offences then there would be a lot of problems on the roads. Local councils will have smaller budgets or they will be compelled to raise council taxes as there would be little or null revenues from parking fines.
Though this is the theory of parking ticket issuance and the subsequent payment of parking fines for breaking the law, the reality however is centered around traffic wardens pressurized to issue more tickets in order to collect more revenue locally.
So if any motorist or driver thinks of parking his car in a public place where there is no sign saying he is permitted to park, he should avoid parking there as it is likely to be a trap. Its really not worth the risk of getting a huge parking fine or having to appeal a parking ticket.
Appealing against a parking ticket is a very easy procedure. But still the fact remains that 99% of people pay their traffic fine even if it is totally unfair. All you have to do to have the fine cancelled is write a simple letter, or even an email to the local council.
Hopefully, drafting a short mail or letter should not be too much of a hassle for you especially when it can save 30 120 pounds. Most drivers are unaware of the ease in drafting this letter. You have numerous companies who explain the entire process to you online. There are even sites who offer appeal templates or even draft the letter on your behalf.
For being successful in case of parking ticket appeal, you need to be able to show that the parking ticket issues, was invalid in the first place Some of the ways in which you could do this is by providing photographic evidence in order to corroborate the fact that you didnt do the offense or might be that there were no proper parking signs in the vicinity which lead you to committing the offence. One has a high chance of winning since most of all the tickets are usually invalid.
Using evidence of photograph is one option, but besides one can also use a technicality to aid appealing a parking ticket. Common technicalities are to do things mentioned in the parking ticket. Suppose if you got a ticket which mentioned you were parked in Church Street while in reality you were in Church road. Thus you could argue about the contravention never occurred winning your parking appeal.
Yet another phenomenon is privately issued parking tickets. In this procedure you get the ticket like those issued by a warden. The ticket looks very similar to the normal parking tickets which will say something as Parking Charge Notice pay within 14 days for a reduced rate. Non payment will result in us contacting the D.V.L.A. for your details.
Dismissing such private parking tickets is the best thing to do since these are mostly empty threats without any legal base. Moreover, even if you write to them and appeal, it will most certainly be turned down and these are more invoices in essence than an actual ticket.
To make my point more clear, Euro Car Parks for example have never taken anyone to court for non payment of parking fines.
If a company did take you to court over non payment of parking fines then they would have to prove you as a registered keeper party to any contract (when you enter their car park you enter in to a contract). They would need to prove you were driving the car at that time. But even if they could prove that you were driving the car at the given time, then they would only be entitled to an extra 2 pounds for an hours parking.
To conclude the fact it is very important to mention that even if you receive 3 or 4 threatening letters from these companies or even for parking ticket appeal then please do ignore them. This way after a while they will go away. You could even tell the if they do not stop you will bring them a court order for the charge of harassment. Once you have done this ignore the rest of the letters they send you.
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.