BBC NEWS | UK | 'Half of disabled badges illegal': "Half of disabled badges illegal'
A parking bay for disabled drivers
The badges give drivers free and unlimited parking
Up to half of all disabled parking badges in London are being used illegally, according to the Local Government Association (LGA).
It is estimated that badges are now changing hands on the black market for up to �500.
A recent crackdown by spending watchdog the Audit Commission led to nearly 5,500 badges being cancelled in Manchester, Merseyside and London.
The badges allow free and unlimited parking in pay and display bays.
They also allow parking for up to three hours on yellow lines and, in London, holders are exempt from the congestion charge.
The badge does not carry a photograph or car registration number, so they can easily be transferred between vehicles and drivers.
Undercover
In May the Audit Commission revealed nearly 5,500 blue badges in London, Merseyside and Manchester were cancelled after it was discovered they were being used after the holder had died.
Its report also found that a number of blue badges had been reissued in London after the people entitled to them had died.
They included four badges in Wandsworth, which had been used 347 times to avoid paying the congestion charge, ten in Barnet, used 80 times, and two in Camden, used 227 times.
Charges were brought against a solicitor, a bank employee and a care home manager.
According to the Audit Commission badges are now changing hands for around �500 on the back market and the LGA says it believes up to half of the badges in London are being used illegally.
The abuse is widespread in many UK cities and Manchester City Council is so concerned it is now using undercover surveillance to catch badge-abusers.
"
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Friday, November 17, 2006
Congestion Charge Not Wanted (from News Shopper)
Congestion Charge Not Wanted (from News Shopper): "Congestion charge not wanted
By Simon Bull
Comment | Read Comments (1)
NEWS Shopper voters have expressed strong opposition to the possible introduction of a congestion charge in Greenwich.
One particular person felt so strongly against the idea that they attempted to manipulate News Shopper's voting system to cast 80 'no' votes.
As with all News Shopper polls, the multiple votes were removed from the overall result.
Regardless of the attempted hijacking of the vote, there was still an overwhelmingly negative response to the possibility of a congestion charge being introduced in Greenwich to help reduce traffic.
continued...
Just 24.1 per cent of people who responded to the online poll were in favour, with 73.4 per cent against. The 'don't know' vote was 2.5 per cent."
By Simon Bull
Comment | Read Comments (1)
NEWS Shopper voters have expressed strong opposition to the possible introduction of a congestion charge in Greenwich.
One particular person felt so strongly against the idea that they attempted to manipulate News Shopper's voting system to cast 80 'no' votes.
As with all News Shopper polls, the multiple votes were removed from the overall result.
Regardless of the attempted hijacking of the vote, there was still an overwhelmingly negative response to the possibility of a congestion charge being introduced in Greenwich to help reduce traffic.
continued...
Just 24.1 per cent of people who responded to the online poll were in favour, with 73.4 per cent against. The 'don't know' vote was 2.5 per cent."
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Drivers face massive tax hit | Auto Express News | News | Auto Express
Drivers face massive tax hit | Auto Express News | News | Auto Express: "Drivers face massive tax hit
From 99 pence a litre fuel to �5,000 tax discs. These are the best and worst case scenarios under the Government's plans to tackle congestion and tax UK drivers.
By Mat Watson
08th November 2006
motorway
Best case
Fuel 99p per litre
Road Tax top band �210
London Congestion Charge �8
Resident parking permits up to �100
M1 car share lane for high occupancy vehicles
As Auto Express's motoring Green Gauge shows, the politicians are looking at a huge range of environmental penalties in an unprecedented assault on car numbers, usage and pollution.
The UK is already the most expensive place to run a car in Europe, with an average cost of �4,997 a year. But things could get a lot worse over the next five years, depending on how tough the authorities get.
Possible measures include an annual fuel tax accelerator of five per cent, which will see unleaded rise to �1.27 per litre at today's prices. Sheila Rainger, campaigns manager for the RAC Foundation for Motoring warned: 'There could be tough times ahead for motorists. They are a soft target, and even greater taxation seems to be the plan for the future.
'Richmond Council in Surrey is already planning �300 charges for parking permits, and other boroughs may follow. London mayor Ken Livingstone has suggested the Congestion Charge could rise to �25, while Manchester and Birmingham have been given funding to look into their own tolls.'
An increase in car tax is likely, too. In August, the Environmental Audit Committee called for VED to rise to �1,800, while the Liberal Democrats would like a charge of �2,000. Tory MP Tim Yeo has even suggested a top band of �5,000. Compulsory scrapping of older cars and a new car purchase tax have also been suggested."
From 99 pence a litre fuel to �5,000 tax discs. These are the best and worst case scenarios under the Government's plans to tackle congestion and tax UK drivers.
By Mat Watson
08th November 2006
motorway
Best case
Fuel 99p per litre
Road Tax top band �210
London Congestion Charge �8
Resident parking permits up to �100
M1 car share lane for high occupancy vehicles
As Auto Express's motoring Green Gauge shows, the politicians are looking at a huge range of environmental penalties in an unprecedented assault on car numbers, usage and pollution.
The UK is already the most expensive place to run a car in Europe, with an average cost of �4,997 a year. But things could get a lot worse over the next five years, depending on how tough the authorities get.
Possible measures include an annual fuel tax accelerator of five per cent, which will see unleaded rise to �1.27 per litre at today's prices. Sheila Rainger, campaigns manager for the RAC Foundation for Motoring warned: 'There could be tough times ahead for motorists. They are a soft target, and even greater taxation seems to be the plan for the future.
'Richmond Council in Surrey is already planning �300 charges for parking permits, and other boroughs may follow. London mayor Ken Livingstone has suggested the Congestion Charge could rise to �25, while Manchester and Birmingham have been given funding to look into their own tolls.'
An increase in car tax is likely, too. In August, the Environmental Audit Committee called for VED to rise to �1,800, while the Liberal Democrats would like a charge of �2,000. Tory MP Tim Yeo has even suggested a top band of �5,000. Compulsory scrapping of older cars and a new car purchase tax have also been suggested."
Saturday, November 04, 2006
BBC NEWS | UK | How we are being watched
BBC NEWS | UK | How we are being watched: "CCTV in Britain's streets can trace its genesis back to a limited system set up for the Queen's coronation in 1953. By the 1960s there was permanent CCTV in some London streets. Now there are an estimated four million cameras in the country, viewing us as many as 300 times a day.
CCTV in Westminster
CCTV is everywhere
CCTV cameras in stores monitor shoplifters, those in cash machines look for fraud gangs, those on public transport watch vandals and thugs. But they also watch ordinary people at the same time.
Digital CCTV systems can be configured to use face-recognition and look for criminal suspects.
An estimated �500m of public money has been spent on installing CCTV in the last decade.
AUTOMATIC NUMBER PLATE RECOGNITION
Cameras that could recognises the registration plates on suspect vehicles were first used to track IRA suspects in London. Now the technology is used for speed cameras, traffic enforcement cameras and in London's congestion charging zone."
CCTV in Westminster
CCTV is everywhere
CCTV cameras in stores monitor shoplifters, those in cash machines look for fraud gangs, those on public transport watch vandals and thugs. But they also watch ordinary people at the same time.
Digital CCTV systems can be configured to use face-recognition and look for criminal suspects.
An estimated �500m of public money has been spent on installing CCTV in the last decade.
AUTOMATIC NUMBER PLATE RECOGNITION
Cameras that could recognises the registration plates on suspect vehicles were first used to track IRA suspects in London. Now the technology is used for speed cameras, traffic enforcement cameras and in London's congestion charging zone."
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Sunderland Councillor refuses to quit over 'scandals'
Councillor refuses to quit over 'scandals'
The Journal
Thursday, 2 November 06
By Ross Smith
Conservatives last night failed in a bid to force a leading North councillor to resign over scandals in his city's parking system.
A motion at Sunderland Council calling on executive member for planning and transport Joe Lawson to quit was defeated in a stormy civic centre meeting.
The call came after a series of flaws were uncovered in traffic regulations, forcing the council to pay back more than �30,000 in fines - and a TV documentary which recorded parking attendants making racist comments.
The Tories also called on the council to start proceedings which would see NCP, which runs parking enforcement in the city, stripped of its contract.
Group leader Lee Martin said: 'Either NCP knew what was going on and turned a blind eye, or they didn't have a clue, which is complete failure of management.'
Conservative councillor Margaret Forbes said NCp attendants had been acting like a 'poor grade mafia', adn Coun Lawson displayed 'total ignorance of any problems'.
She said: 'This sorry state of affairs has brought into disrepute the reputation of Sunderland Council, its citizens, NCP and others.'
But with the Labour majority standing staunchily behind Coun Lawson, the motion was defeated by 45 votes to 16.
Sole Liberal Democrat member Paul Dixon voted with Labour, but admitted: 'Heads must roll.'
After the meeting, council leader Bob Symonds said: 'Coun Lawson is very much on top of the situation and we'll take it through step by step. Coun Lawson has my full support, the full support of the rest of the cabinet and the full support of the Labour group.'
A special cabinet meeting later this month will consider 'all options', including finding a new contractor or taking parking enforcement back in house.
Coun Lawson told the meeting: 'Sunderland's decriminalised parking enforcement regime is legally robust, lawful and enforceable.
'I shall not be resigning, I believe and my colleagues believe I am doing a reasonable job.'
Labour criticised the Conservatives for focusing on problems with traffic orders rather than the issue of racism."
The Journal
Thursday, 2 November 06
By Ross Smith
Conservatives last night failed in a bid to force a leading North councillor to resign over scandals in his city's parking system.
A motion at Sunderland Council calling on executive member for planning and transport Joe Lawson to quit was defeated in a stormy civic centre meeting.
The call came after a series of flaws were uncovered in traffic regulations, forcing the council to pay back more than �30,000 in fines - and a TV documentary which recorded parking attendants making racist comments.
The Tories also called on the council to start proceedings which would see NCP, which runs parking enforcement in the city, stripped of its contract.
Group leader Lee Martin said: 'Either NCP knew what was going on and turned a blind eye, or they didn't have a clue, which is complete failure of management.'
Conservative councillor Margaret Forbes said NCp attendants had been acting like a 'poor grade mafia', adn Coun Lawson displayed 'total ignorance of any problems'.
She said: 'This sorry state of affairs has brought into disrepute the reputation of Sunderland Council, its citizens, NCP and others.'
But with the Labour majority standing staunchily behind Coun Lawson, the motion was defeated by 45 votes to 16.
Sole Liberal Democrat member Paul Dixon voted with Labour, but admitted: 'Heads must roll.'
After the meeting, council leader Bob Symonds said: 'Coun Lawson is very much on top of the situation and we'll take it through step by step. Coun Lawson has my full support, the full support of the rest of the cabinet and the full support of the Labour group.'
A special cabinet meeting later this month will consider 'all options', including finding a new contractor or taking parking enforcement back in house.
Coun Lawson told the meeting: 'Sunderland's decriminalised parking enforcement regime is legally robust, lawful and enforceable.
'I shall not be resigning, I believe and my colleagues believe I am doing a reasonable job.'
Labour criticised the Conservatives for focusing on problems with traffic orders rather than the issue of racism."
Stay Tuned for the latest news
Stay Tuned for the latest news
Remember you can fight back against illegally issued parking tickets.
If you want to appealsuch a parking ticket but don't know how - then
visit http://www.appealnow.com
where you can appeal online in 4½ minutes.
© 2006 Barrie Segal and AppealNow.com™ - All Rights reserved
Barrie Segal is the founder of AppealNow.com™ and is a regular radio broadcaster in the UK.
APPEALNOW.COM™
Remember you can fight back against illegally issued parking tickets.
If you want to appealsuch a parking ticket but don't know how - then
visit http://www.appealnow.com
where you can appeal online in 4½ minutes.
© 2006 Barrie Segal and AppealNow.com™ - All Rights reserved
Barrie Segal is the founder of AppealNow.com™ and is a regular radio broadcaster in the UK.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
BBC NEWS | UK | More traffic police officers call
BBC NEWS | UK | More traffic police officers call: "More traffic police officers call
Speed camera
The group of MPs is likely to call for more cameras and more officers
A report by MPs is expected to call for more police officers to enforce speeding laws, and relaxation of rules limiting the siting of speed cameras.
The report by the Transport Select Committee is likely to say that, while the number of speed cameras has risen, there should be more officers too.
There are fewer officers on patrol than there were a decade ago.
However, the MPs are expected to call for less stringent rules on where cameras are allowed to be installed.
In its report Roads Policing and Technology - Getting the Balance Right, the committee is expected to say the change in emphasis is because money from fines is spent on more cameras.
More officers
The government has already said fines will be spent on more safety measures than just cameras next year.
Opponents have bitterly criticised the emphasis on electronic policing.
The committee is likely to say cameras should not replace people in enforcing traffic law and that more officers, as well as more cameras, are needed.
It is also expected to call for relaxation of the rule which prevents cameras being installed unless there is a record of deaths and serious injuries in the area.
"
Speed camera
The group of MPs is likely to call for more cameras and more officers
A report by MPs is expected to call for more police officers to enforce speeding laws, and relaxation of rules limiting the siting of speed cameras.
The report by the Transport Select Committee is likely to say that, while the number of speed cameras has risen, there should be more officers too.
There are fewer officers on patrol than there were a decade ago.
However, the MPs are expected to call for less stringent rules on where cameras are allowed to be installed.
In its report Roads Policing and Technology - Getting the Balance Right, the committee is expected to say the change in emphasis is because money from fines is spent on more cameras.
More officers
The government has already said fines will be spent on more safety measures than just cameras next year.
Opponents have bitterly criticised the emphasis on electronic policing.
The committee is likely to say cameras should not replace people in enforcing traffic law and that more officers, as well as more cameras, are needed.
It is also expected to call for relaxation of the rule which prevents cameras being installed unless there is a record of deaths and serious injuries in the area.
"
UK: Speed Camera Money Buys Plasma TVs
UK: Speed Camera Money Buys Plasma TVs
A substantial amount of UK photo enforcement revenue is being used on spin and luxury items for camera operators.
Revenue from UK speed and red light cameras is increasingly being used to fund efforts to make the unpopular devices more acceptable. Last year, for example, the Avon, Somerset and Gloucestershire speed camera partnership spent £326,400 (US $620,000) on public relations efforts. The publicity bill for Hampshire & Isle of Wight amounted to £86,524 (US$ 164,101), in addition the costs of a newly hired, full-time public relations specialist. Warwickshire's spin tab ran to £116,693 (US $221,319).
Other uses for the ticket funds include luxury items. Partnership workers in Essex are enjoying a new plasma television that cost £7,495 (US $14,215). Derbyshire spent £250 (US $475) on t-shirts for staff and £15,000 (US $29,500) for other promotional items.
"Motorists and the general public have a right to ask, 'Why do the partnerships need publicity officers, plasma screens and T-shirts?'" Shadow Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said after he uncovered the figures in parliament. "My concern is that the increasing emphasis on speed cameras under this Government means that there aren't enough real traffic police to drive rogue drivers -- who are often the ones involved in the worst accidents -- off our roads."
Source: Speed camera fines used to buy plasma TVs and T-shirts (London Telegraph (UK), 10/29/2006)Remember you can fight back against illegally issued parking tickets.
If you want to appealsuch a parking ticket but don't know how - then
visit http://www.appealnow.com
where you can appeal online in 4½ minutes.
© 2006 Barrie Segal and AppealNow.com™ - All Rights reserved
Barrie Segal is the founder of AppealNow.com™ and is a regular radio broadcaster in the UK.
APPEALNOW.COM™
A substantial amount of UK photo enforcement revenue is being used on spin and luxury items for camera operators.
Revenue from UK speed and red light cameras is increasingly being used to fund efforts to make the unpopular devices more acceptable. Last year, for example, the Avon, Somerset and Gloucestershire speed camera partnership spent £326,400 (US $620,000) on public relations efforts. The publicity bill for Hampshire & Isle of Wight amounted to £86,524 (US$ 164,101), in addition the costs of a newly hired, full-time public relations specialist. Warwickshire's spin tab ran to £116,693 (US $221,319).Other uses for the ticket funds include luxury items. Partnership workers in Essex are enjoying a new plasma television that cost £7,495 (US $14,215). Derbyshire spent £250 (US $475) on t-shirts for staff and £15,000 (US $29,500) for other promotional items.
"Motorists and the general public have a right to ask, 'Why do the partnerships need publicity officers, plasma screens and T-shirts?'" Shadow Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said after he uncovered the figures in parliament. "My concern is that the increasing emphasis on speed cameras under this Government means that there aren't enough real traffic police to drive rogue drivers -- who are often the ones involved in the worst accidents -- off our roads."
Source: Speed camera fines used to buy plasma TVs and T-shirts (London Telegraph (UK), 10/29/2006)Remember you can fight back against illegally issued parking tickets.
If you want to appealsuch a parking ticket but don't know how - then
visit http://www.appealnow.com
where you can appeal online in 4½ minutes.
© 2006 Barrie Segal and AppealNow.com™ - All Rights reserved
Barrie Segal is the founder of AppealNow.com™ and is a regular radio broadcaster in the UK.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
BBC NEWS | England | Beds/Bucks/Herts | Crackdown nets 21 over seat belts
BBC NEWS | England | Beds/Bucks/Herts | Crackdown nets 21 over seat belts: "Crackdown nets 21 over seat belts
More than 20 people stopped by police in a crackdown on car crime were not wearing seat belts, police revealed.
Officers in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, stopped 35 vehicles last Thursday in an automated number plate recognition and casualty reduction control operation.
Officers issued 21 tickets for not wearing seat belts and recovered two vehicles for having no insurance and their drivers having no licence.
Sgt Andy Treagus, from Herts Police, said more crackdowns were planned.
'Two thirds of the vehicles stopped were issued with tickets,' said Sgt Treagus.
'Seatbelts and insurance are there for valid reasons. By not complying with the law people are putting both themselves and other road users at serious risk.
'This operation serves as a harsh warning to other road users who flout the law. We will find you and take appropriate action.' "
More than 20 people stopped by police in a crackdown on car crime were not wearing seat belts, police revealed.
Officers in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, stopped 35 vehicles last Thursday in an automated number plate recognition and casualty reduction control operation.
Officers issued 21 tickets for not wearing seat belts and recovered two vehicles for having no insurance and their drivers having no licence.
Sgt Andy Treagus, from Herts Police, said more crackdowns were planned.
'Two thirds of the vehicles stopped were issued with tickets,' said Sgt Treagus.
'Seatbelts and insurance are there for valid reasons. By not complying with the law people are putting both themselves and other road users at serious risk.
'This operation serves as a harsh warning to other road users who flout the law. We will find you and take appropriate action.' "
BBC NEWS | England | Gloucestershire | Motorists flout road safety laws
BBC NEWS | England | Gloucestershire | Motorists flout road safety laws: "Motorists flout road safety laws
Nearly 1,500 motorists in Gloucestershire were caught in the past 12 months illegally using mobile phones while driving, new figures show.
Police said 47 cyclists were found to be riding without lights and 45 were stopped for riding on pavements.
No information was yet available on how many drivers had been caught flouting the new child booster seat law, which came into effect on 18 September.
But 19 children were found to be riding in front or back seats without a belt.
Traffic officer Inspector Charlie Laporte said: 'Members of the public should realise these laws are there to protect them and protect others.
'They shouldn't need a police officer breathing down their necks telling them what to do.
'However, it is clearly difficult as we don't have police officers on every street corner looking out for these things.'
"
Nearly 1,500 motorists in Gloucestershire were caught in the past 12 months illegally using mobile phones while driving, new figures show.
Police said 47 cyclists were found to be riding without lights and 45 were stopped for riding on pavements.
No information was yet available on how many drivers had been caught flouting the new child booster seat law, which came into effect on 18 September.
But 19 children were found to be riding in front or back seats without a belt.
Traffic officer Inspector Charlie Laporte said: 'Members of the public should realise these laws are there to protect them and protect others.
'They shouldn't need a police officer breathing down their necks telling them what to do.
'However, it is clearly difficult as we don't have police officers on every street corner looking out for these things.'
"
Friday, October 27, 2006
Radio and Newspaper Interviews
AppealNow.com's founder, Barrie Segal was interviewed on Scottish Radio station Talk 107 and Radio London on 26th October, the subject parking tickets of course.
Barrie was also quoted yesterday and today in several newspapers including the London Times as well as being quoted on the Channel 4 website.
He was interviewed live in the studio on BBC News 24 on 21st October
Remember you can fight back against illegally issued parking tickets.
If you want to appealsuch a parking ticket but don't know how - then
visit http://www.appealnow.com
where you can appeal online in 4½ minutes.
© 2006 Barrie Segal and AppealNow.com™ - All Rights reserved
Barrie Segal is the founder of AppealNow.com™ and is a regular radio broadcaster in the UK.
APPEALNOW.COM™
Barrie was also quoted yesterday and today in several newspapers including the London Times as well as being quoted on the Channel 4 website.
He was interviewed live in the studio on BBC News 24 on 21st October
Remember you can fight back against illegally issued parking tickets.
If you want to appealsuch a parking ticket but don't know how - then
visit http://www.appealnow.com
where you can appeal online in 4½ minutes.
© 2006 Barrie Segal and AppealNow.com™ - All Rights reserved
Barrie Segal is the founder of AppealNow.com™ and is a regular radio broadcaster in the UK.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
SauchieHAUL Street - Evening Times
SauchieHAUL Street - Evening Times: "Barrie Segal, parking campaigner and founder of Appeal Now, said: 'The main problem is there is not a motorist out there who believes these tickets are issued for the benefit of keeping the streets clear.
'When you see parking attendants flinging themselves in front of cars to give them a ticket, you know that's the case.' "
'When you see parking attendants flinging themselves in front of cars to give them a ticket, you know that's the case.' "
Saturday, October 21, 2006
BBC NEWS | UK | England | Kent | Parking complaints prompt review
BBC NEWS | UK | England | Kent | Parking complaints prompt review: "Parking complaints prompt review
Complaints from local residents about inconsiderate and sometimes dangerous parking in a Kent town centre have led to a review of on-street parking.
The district council in Sevenoaks has written to 3,000 householders and residents associations seeking views.
Proposals include restricting parking in some residential areas, issuing permits to residents, and making better use of roads near the railway station.
Several hundred more parking spaces could become available as a result.
Road safety
The draft proposals were drawn up in partnership with some residents associations, Sevenoaks Town Council and Kent County Council.
They also include extra parking for disabled drivers and school buses, some additional pay and display areas and new restrictions near junctions and corners to improve road safety.
Consideration is also being given to making a number of parking permits available at reduced rates for people who work in the town, and for those who use environmentally friendly vehicles such as hybrid or Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cars.
Residents have until the end of November to comment on the proposals.
"
Complaints from local residents about inconsiderate and sometimes dangerous parking in a Kent town centre have led to a review of on-street parking.
The district council in Sevenoaks has written to 3,000 householders and residents associations seeking views.
Proposals include restricting parking in some residential areas, issuing permits to residents, and making better use of roads near the railway station.
Several hundred more parking spaces could become available as a result.
Road safety
The draft proposals were drawn up in partnership with some residents associations, Sevenoaks Town Council and Kent County Council.
They also include extra parking for disabled drivers and school buses, some additional pay and display areas and new restrictions near junctions and corners to improve road safety.
Consideration is also being given to making a number of parking permits available at reduced rates for people who work in the town, and for those who use environmentally friendly vehicles such as hybrid or Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cars.
Residents have until the end of November to comment on the proposals.
"
Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea bailiff’s letters for alleged old parking tickets
Sometime ago the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea started sending out bailiff’s letters for allegedly unpaid parking tickets issued up to 5 years ago. They told me that the letters were not sent out earlier due to a software problem which apparently has now been solved and now allows them to issue those bailiff’s letters. I frankly was unconvinced. Having worked with computers for something like 30 years, I know that if there was a problem with the software I would have expected other software to be available to produce the information required for the bailiff’s letters. If that wasn’t, then it throws into question the accuracy of the data which they are now using. In essence, if this software problem has existed for 4 or 5 years, how on earth can the council be sure that their records supposedly showing the issue of those parking tickets all those years ago are correct?
I understand that other councils did the same. My suggestion is that if you receive a bailiff’s letter in these circumstances and dispute the charge, write immediately to the council saying:-
1) You disagree with the charge;
2) Ask them for proof of the issue of the alleged parking ticket;
3) Send your response by email to the council and send a copy to the bailiffs.
The worrying aspect of the case in question is that the bailiff’s letter refers to people as having committed an offence. Now, under decriminalised parking law, parking tickets issued are not issued in relation to an offence – which are criminal matters – but alleged contraventions which are non-criminal. So in itself the letter that has been sent out on behalf of Kensington & Chelsea in my view is completely inaccurate and has no worth or validity. Remember you can fight back against illegally issued parking tickets.
If you want to appealsuch a parking ticket but don't know how - then
visit http://www.appealnow.com
where you can appeal online in 4½ minutes.
© 2006 Barrie Segal and AppealNow.com™ - All Rights reserved
Barrie Segal is the founder of AppealNow.com™ and is a regular radio broadcaster in the UK.
APPEALNOW.COM
I understand that other councils did the same. My suggestion is that if you receive a bailiff’s letter in these circumstances and dispute the charge, write immediately to the council saying:-
1) You disagree with the charge;
2) Ask them for proof of the issue of the alleged parking ticket;
3) Send your response by email to the council and send a copy to the bailiffs.
The worrying aspect of the case in question is that the bailiff’s letter refers to people as having committed an offence. Now, under decriminalised parking law, parking tickets issued are not issued in relation to an offence – which are criminal matters – but alleged contraventions which are non-criminal. So in itself the letter that has been sent out on behalf of Kensington & Chelsea in my view is completely inaccurate and has no worth or validity. Remember you can fight back against illegally issued parking tickets.
If you want to appealsuch a parking ticket but don't know how - then
visit http://www.appealnow.com
where you can appeal online in 4½ minutes.
© 2006 Barrie Segal and AppealNow.com™ - All Rights reserved
Barrie Segal is the founder of AppealNow.com™ and is a regular radio broadcaster in the UK.
Friday, October 20, 2006
Road Changes Are Branded Dangerous (from Hendon Times)
Road Changes Are Branded Dangerous (from Hendon Times): "Road changes are branded ‘dangerous’
by ALEX GALBINSKI A Transport for London (TfL) scheme to remove four bus lay-bys on the A1 in Hampstead Garden Suburb has been branded potentially dangerous by the organisation's own internal report.
TfL decided to fill in the bus bays in Falloden Way at a cost of �65,000 to improve journey times and accessibility', saying they were sub-standard' in width and height - despite strong objections from councillors and residents.
But a TfL-commissioned report by independent road safety auditors WSP Development and Transportation, which visited the sites during the day and evening of July 4, recommends the infills on two of the lay-bys be removed.
continued...
Auditors are concerned that when overtaking buses, other road users may not have time to get back into their appropriate lane before hitting the central island or crossing pedestrians.
It states: 'This is particularly the case if they drivers are in a queue of vehicles or if the bus pulls away from the stop. This was observed several times during the site visit and led to heavy braking or swerving manoeuvres to avoid the island.'
It also recommends the number of lanes at the third lay-by, opposite 82-84 Falloden Way, be reduced from two to one.
Earlier this year, TfL told the council it was policy to fill in bus stop lay-bys where speed limits are 30mph or less, except when there are material safety issues'.
Councillor Matthew Offord, Barnet's cabinet member for environment and transport, said: 'TfL ignored safety concerns, not only of the council, but also of the police, when it removed the lay-bys in Falloden Way. This is unacceptable. I have called for the bus lay-bys to be put back to ensure the safety of all road users: buses and motorists alike.'
A spokesman for TfL stressed that the report was a draft and therefore no decision had been made to modify the lay-bys in any way.
He said: 'Before any decision is made on modifications to the scheme, TfL would want to carry out a full set of after implementation' surveys after the school holidays, and compare them with surveys carried out in February and March.
'TfL remains committed to retaining the improved accessibility for bus passengers which the lay-by infills provide, while mitigating side-effects as much as possible.'"
Remember you can fight back against illegally issued parking tickets.
If you want to appealsuch a parking ticket but don't know how - then
visit http://www.appealnow.com where you can appeal online in 4½ minutes.
© 2006 Barrie Segal and AppealNow.com™ - All Rights reserved
Barrie Segal is the founder of AppealNow.com™ and is a regular radio broadcaster in the UK.
by ALEX GALBINSKI A Transport for London (TfL) scheme to remove four bus lay-bys on the A1 in Hampstead Garden Suburb has been branded potentially dangerous by the organisation's own internal report.
TfL decided to fill in the bus bays in Falloden Way at a cost of �65,000 to improve journey times and accessibility', saying they were sub-standard' in width and height - despite strong objections from councillors and residents.
But a TfL-commissioned report by independent road safety auditors WSP Development and Transportation, which visited the sites during the day and evening of July 4, recommends the infills on two of the lay-bys be removed.
continued...
Auditors are concerned that when overtaking buses, other road users may not have time to get back into their appropriate lane before hitting the central island or crossing pedestrians.
It states: 'This is particularly the case if they drivers are in a queue of vehicles or if the bus pulls away from the stop. This was observed several times during the site visit and led to heavy braking or swerving manoeuvres to avoid the island.'
It also recommends the number of lanes at the third lay-by, opposite 82-84 Falloden Way, be reduced from two to one.
Earlier this year, TfL told the council it was policy to fill in bus stop lay-bys where speed limits are 30mph or less, except when there are material safety issues'.
Councillor Matthew Offord, Barnet's cabinet member for environment and transport, said: 'TfL ignored safety concerns, not only of the council, but also of the police, when it removed the lay-bys in Falloden Way. This is unacceptable. I have called for the bus lay-bys to be put back to ensure the safety of all road users: buses and motorists alike.'
A spokesman for TfL stressed that the report was a draft and therefore no decision had been made to modify the lay-bys in any way.
He said: 'Before any decision is made on modifications to the scheme, TfL would want to carry out a full set of after implementation' surveys after the school holidays, and compare them with surveys carried out in February and March.
'TfL remains committed to retaining the improved accessibility for bus passengers which the lay-by infills provide, while mitigating side-effects as much as possible.'"
Remember you can fight back against illegally issued parking tickets.
If you want to appealsuch a parking ticket but don't know how - then
visit http://www.appealnow.com where you can appeal online in 4½ minutes.
© 2006 Barrie Segal and AppealNow.com™ - All Rights reserved
Barrie Segal is the founder of AppealNow.com™ and is a regular radio broadcaster in the UK.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Taxi Drivers Protest
Taxi drivers are protesting at restrictions on making U-Turns outside Harrods in London. More to follow:
Sightseeing in London with those who know it best - London taxi drivers.
What better way to see London than by black taxi? With your own personal driver guide, you'll see London at your own pace. You can stop whenever you like to take photos, you can decide how long you want to spend at each tourist attraction and you can even book your own customised itinery!
Avoid the tourist traps...
Who better to guide you through the streets of London than a fully qualified and highly experienced black cab driver? London's cab drivers make the perfect personal guides - their inside knowledge of London is unsurpassed.
London's taxi drivers must have "The Knowledge" - and have taken the toughest taxi exam in the world. Drivers know every alley, street and short cut in London, as well as London's historic sights, palaces, museums, galleries, shops and markets.
Choose where you want to go...
You can choose which sort of tour you would like to follow.
Remember you can fight back against illegally issued parking tickets.
If you want to appealsuch a parking ticket but don't know how - then
visit the http:/www.appealnow.com where you can appeal online in 4½ minutes.
© 2006 Barrie Segal and AppealNow.com™ - All Rights reserved
Barrie Segal is the founder of AppealNow.com™ and is a regular radio broadcaster in the UK.
Sightseeing in London with those who know it best - London taxi drivers.
What better way to see London than by black taxi? With your own personal driver guide, you'll see London at your own pace. You can stop whenever you like to take photos, you can decide how long you want to spend at each tourist attraction and you can even book your own customised itinery!
Avoid the tourist traps...
Who better to guide you through the streets of London than a fully qualified and highly experienced black cab driver? London's cab drivers make the perfect personal guides - their inside knowledge of London is unsurpassed.
London's taxi drivers must have "The Knowledge" - and have taken the toughest taxi exam in the world. Drivers know every alley, street and short cut in London, as well as London's historic sights, palaces, museums, galleries, shops and markets.
Choose where you want to go...
You can choose which sort of tour you would like to follow.
Remember you can fight back against illegally issued parking tickets.
If you want to appealsuch a parking ticket but don't know how - then
visit the http:/www.appealnow.com where you can appeal online in 4½ minutes.
© 2006 Barrie Segal and AppealNow.com™ - All Rights reserved
Barrie Segal is the founder of AppealNow.com™ and is a regular radio broadcaster in the UK.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Barrie Segal - After Dinning Speaking
Barrie Segal, the founder of APPEALNOW.com™, has been described by Richard Hammond of “Top Gear” fame as the “UK’s leading Parking Ticket expert”. He has reviewed in excess of 6,000 parking tickets. The drivers' uncaped crusader Barrie is an amazing corporate speaker and great after dinner speaker..
He has recently been in the news when he successfully challenged the legality of three London councils parking tickets and had 455,000 annual parking tickets, generating £17 million, declared illegal and unenforceable. He is currently challenging more local authorities where the annual figures involved are in excess of £60 million. He has recently filmed an interview for BBC TV’s Breakfast News. “Tonight with Trevor McDonald” will be filming his live parking ticket phone in on TalkSport Radio . He is currently assisting the programme with technical advice and is in the process of reviewing the legality of all British councils’ parking tickets.
He has a regular phone-in programme on TalkSport Radio and is a regular contributor to numerous TV shows and radio programmes, including BBC TV’s BBC London News, Real Story, BBC3 TV News, Radio 5.and LBC Radio
Barrie has also uncovered numerous parking ticket scams and has appeared on BBC and Independent television and radio Barrie has also appeared on ITV’s Tonight with Trevor McDonald, London Tonight, Richard Hammond’s 5 O’ Clock Show and The London Programme.
He has been featured in all the major British newspapers and internationally featured in The New York Times, The International Herald Tribune and many more.
Barrie assisted Which? Magazine’s latest report on parking tickets which received the largest number of letters on any subject the magazine has ever received.
He has also given technical advice to many TV programmes on parking tickets, including the BBC’s Whistleblowers series. He has now been asked to give after dinner speeches about the humorous, annoying and downright wicked sides of the parking ticket system.
In 2003, he founded the Crazy Parking Ticket Awards to highlight the absurd way our parking ticket laws are enforced by local authorities. The first year’s winner was a rabbit which had a parking ticket slapped on its hutch.
He has also been in the forefront of viral advertising on the Internet, having commissioned three viral adverts for his AppealNow.com website. Two of those adverts won Gold Awards at the Cannes International Advertising Awards Festival late last year and one of his viral adverts, Kicking, has been seen by an estimated 5 million people on the Internet.
Barrie has submitted evidence on parking matters to both the London Assembly and the Parliamentary Transport Committee on Parking. He also regularly represents clients before the Parking Adjudicator
He believes that one way to help people fight incorrect parking tickets is to use humour to highlight the lengths to which councils go to issue parking tickets. His files contain thousands of stories and anecdotes on parking tickets, clamping and tow-aways, as well as the congestion charge. He has found that the subject of parking tickets is of universal interest to motorists in Britain, few of whom have been lucky enough to escape the scourge of the parking attendant.
In his “other” life, Barrie is a Chartered Accountant who specialises in company turnarounds, financial advice and IT systems for business. In the mid-80s he was Managing Director in charge of U.S. Operations for an internationally famous restaurant chain and for many years was Senior Tax Partner at a well-known firm of Chartered Accountants. He has also lectured extensively on international tax.
Remember you can fight back against illegally issued parking tickets.If you want to appealsuch a parking ticket but don't know how - then
visit http://www.appealnow.com
where you can appeal online in 4½ minutes.
© 2006 Barrie Segal and AppealNow.com™ - All Rights reserved
Barrie Segal is the founder of AppealNow.com™ and is a regular radio broadcaster in the UK.
Wheel Clamp Campaign Launched (from Bucks Free Press)
Wheel Clamp Campaign Launched (from Bucks Free Press): "Wheel clamp campaign launched
A CLAMPING victim from High Wycombe has this week launched a campaign and is calling on other motorists in High Wycombe to report their horror stories.
Mark Ballard, 36, a building firm company director, was clamped and charged �250 for stopping in a High Wycombe alleyway to look for a lost pencil earlier this year.
Now he wants to hear about other cases where people feel they have been treated unfairly with a view to contacting the Security Industry Authority (SIA), which can remove clamping licenses.
continued...
From May 3 last year, it became illegal to work as a vehicle clamper without a licence from the SIA.
Mr Ballard said: 'I am sure there are many other victims who have been prey to them. I would like to hear from people with a similar experience to me.'
“I am sure there are many other victims who have been prey to them.
Mark Ballard, wheel clamp victim
Mr Ballard was clamped on January 3 after stopping his 4x4 in an alleyway by Priory Road to look for an electronic pencil used to operate his mobile phone, which he had dropped earlier that day.
As he searched a Star Controlled Parking tow truck arrived and drove towards his car, which still had the engine running.
Mr Ballard said: 'I had only been there for a few seconds when I saw the truck.
'I said something along the lines of sorry mate, got in my car and started to do a three point turn to drive out.
'But the truck kept on coming towards me and blocked me in.'
The firm told Mr Ballard he was parked illegally and lifted his car onto the truck.
Mr Ballard said he was told it would cost him �250 on the spot, or they would take his car away.
Star Controlled Parking, which has since left the area, said in a letter to Mr Ballard at the time: 'The signs clearly state permit holders only. We do not target people and we do not ask people to park illegally.'
The firm refused to make any further comment and asked the Free Press to put any questions in writing."
A CLAMPING victim from High Wycombe has this week launched a campaign and is calling on other motorists in High Wycombe to report their horror stories.
Mark Ballard, 36, a building firm company director, was clamped and charged �250 for stopping in a High Wycombe alleyway to look for a lost pencil earlier this year.
Now he wants to hear about other cases where people feel they have been treated unfairly with a view to contacting the Security Industry Authority (SIA), which can remove clamping licenses.
continued...
From May 3 last year, it became illegal to work as a vehicle clamper without a licence from the SIA.
Mr Ballard said: 'I am sure there are many other victims who have been prey to them. I would like to hear from people with a similar experience to me.'
“I am sure there are many other victims who have been prey to them.
Mark Ballard, wheel clamp victim
Mr Ballard was clamped on January 3 after stopping his 4x4 in an alleyway by Priory Road to look for an electronic pencil used to operate his mobile phone, which he had dropped earlier that day.
As he searched a Star Controlled Parking tow truck arrived and drove towards his car, which still had the engine running.
Mr Ballard said: 'I had only been there for a few seconds when I saw the truck.
'I said something along the lines of sorry mate, got in my car and started to do a three point turn to drive out.
'But the truck kept on coming towards me and blocked me in.'
The firm told Mr Ballard he was parked illegally and lifted his car onto the truck.
Mr Ballard said he was told it would cost him �250 on the spot, or they would take his car away.
Star Controlled Parking, which has since left the area, said in a letter to Mr Ballard at the time: 'The signs clearly state permit holders only. We do not target people and we do not ask people to park illegally.'
The firm refused to make any further comment and asked the Free Press to put any questions in writing."
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
News - Sunderland Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More
News - Sunderland Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More: "More NCP suspensions threatened
TWO more parking attendants could be suspended and three senior members of staff investigated after an undercover TV probe.
A Sunderland council meeting heard that six NCP attendants have already been suspended after the BBC documentary, which showed workers making racist comments and jokes about disabled people.
NCP bosses apologised during last night's meeting – held to examine whether there were grounds for the council to terminate its contract with the firm – for the 'unacceptable' behaviour of staff.
NCP promised a shake-up of the service to restore faith in parking in the city, but accused the BBC documentary of being factually flawed.
The meeting at Sunderland civic centre was told that a further two members of staff, one off sick and one on holiday, could be suspended on their return to work.
NCP chief executive Bob Macnaughton called the BBC Inside Out programme 'unbalanced' 'unfair' and 'prejudicial'.
Ken Hanslip, leading the company's internal investigation, accused the documentary of being edited to give a false impression of what was said.
The former police sergeant added that the claims made by attendants of 'torturing Villette Road', targeting Bangladeshis and disabled people, was just 'bravado'.
He said he had looked at internal and police evidence as well as studying the programme in depth and interviewed each attendant implicated for several hours and could not find anything to substantiate the claims.
However, he added that NCP was taking the allegations made in the BBC documentary very seriously.
He said: 'Six parking attendants identified have been suspended. Consideration around a senior parking attendant, a consideration around a supervisor and consideration around a contract manager will go through investigative process I mentioned earlier.'
He added that one attendant was due back from long-term sick on November 3 and another was away on annual leave, but both would be interviewed on their return.
Mr Macnaughton promised a number of measures to improve NCP's service in Sunderland, including diversity training; fitting attendants hand-held ticketing machines with GPS systems to track where they were; scrutinising the company's recruitment process; bolstering management in the city and improving attendants uniforms and working environment to boost their self esteem.
A decision on the continuation of NCP's contract to enforce parking in Sunderland will be made by the council's cabinet after further investigations have taken place.
17 October 2006"
TWO more parking attendants could be suspended and three senior members of staff investigated after an undercover TV probe.
A Sunderland council meeting heard that six NCP attendants have already been suspended after the BBC documentary, which showed workers making racist comments and jokes about disabled people.
NCP bosses apologised during last night's meeting – held to examine whether there were grounds for the council to terminate its contract with the firm – for the 'unacceptable' behaviour of staff.
NCP promised a shake-up of the service to restore faith in parking in the city, but accused the BBC documentary of being factually flawed.
The meeting at Sunderland civic centre was told that a further two members of staff, one off sick and one on holiday, could be suspended on their return to work.
NCP chief executive Bob Macnaughton called the BBC Inside Out programme 'unbalanced' 'unfair' and 'prejudicial'.
Ken Hanslip, leading the company's internal investigation, accused the documentary of being edited to give a false impression of what was said.
The former police sergeant added that the claims made by attendants of 'torturing Villette Road', targeting Bangladeshis and disabled people, was just 'bravado'.
He said he had looked at internal and police evidence as well as studying the programme in depth and interviewed each attendant implicated for several hours and could not find anything to substantiate the claims.
However, he added that NCP was taking the allegations made in the BBC documentary very seriously.
He said: 'Six parking attendants identified have been suspended. Consideration around a senior parking attendant, a consideration around a supervisor and consideration around a contract manager will go through investigative process I mentioned earlier.'
He added that one attendant was due back from long-term sick on November 3 and another was away on annual leave, but both would be interviewed on their return.
Mr Macnaughton promised a number of measures to improve NCP's service in Sunderland, including diversity training; fitting attendants hand-held ticketing machines with GPS systems to track where they were; scrutinising the company's recruitment process; bolstering management in the city and improving attendants uniforms and working environment to boost their self esteem.
A decision on the continuation of NCP's contract to enforce parking in Sunderland will be made by the council's cabinet after further investigations have taken place.
17 October 2006"
Monday, October 16, 2006
Northern Ireland News - Stiffer penalties imposed on illegal parking
Northern Ireland News - Stiffer penalties imposed on illegal parking: "tiffer penalties imposed on illegal parking
The message on parking from the Roads Minister is that for too long law-abiding motorists and pedestrians have paid the penalty for illegal parkers.
However from the end of this month motorists who park illegally are more likely to be caught and will face tougher penalties, Roads Minister David Cairns said today.
He was speaking at the launch of a public awareness campaign to highlight the introduction of Decriminalisation of Parking Enforcement (DPE) which sees responsibility for on street parking enforcement transferred from the Police Service of Northern Ireland to the Department for Regional Development on October 30.
'Which of us has not had to endure slow and disrupted journeys because of congestion caused by those who thoughtlessly park where they shouldn't? Pedestrians and motorists alike have also had to face unnecessary dangers trying to negotiate the obstacles that illegal parkers put in their way,'' said the Minister.
'DPE will see our new traffic attendants concentrating on enforcing parking and waiting restrictions to help make our streets less congested and safer. Where necessary they will issue penalty notices of �60.
'By the twin approaches of enforcement and education we hope to encourage illegal parkers to follow the example of the vast majority of road users and park properly and avoid the need for them or indeed anyone else to pay the penalty.'
The Minister also unveiled the new uniform that will be worn by traffic attendants and paid tribute to the work that many of them had carried out as traffic wardens.
Many of the former traffic wardens are transferring to the new enforcement service provider, NCP.
As part of the tougher measures clamping and impounding of vehicles will be introduced, but initially this will only be where there are outstanding fines or in cases of persistent offences.
(SP)
"
The message on parking from the Roads Minister is that for too long law-abiding motorists and pedestrians have paid the penalty for illegal parkers.
However from the end of this month motorists who park illegally are more likely to be caught and will face tougher penalties, Roads Minister David Cairns said today.
He was speaking at the launch of a public awareness campaign to highlight the introduction of Decriminalisation of Parking Enforcement (DPE) which sees responsibility for on street parking enforcement transferred from the Police Service of Northern Ireland to the Department for Regional Development on October 30.
'Which of us has not had to endure slow and disrupted journeys because of congestion caused by those who thoughtlessly park where they shouldn't? Pedestrians and motorists alike have also had to face unnecessary dangers trying to negotiate the obstacles that illegal parkers put in their way,'' said the Minister.
'DPE will see our new traffic attendants concentrating on enforcing parking and waiting restrictions to help make our streets less congested and safer. Where necessary they will issue penalty notices of �60.
'By the twin approaches of enforcement and education we hope to encourage illegal parkers to follow the example of the vast majority of road users and park properly and avoid the need for them or indeed anyone else to pay the penalty.'
The Minister also unveiled the new uniform that will be worn by traffic attendants and paid tribute to the work that many of them had carried out as traffic wardens.
Many of the former traffic wardens are transferring to the new enforcement service provider, NCP.
As part of the tougher measures clamping and impounding of vehicles will be introduced, but initially this will only be where there are outstanding fines or in cases of persistent offences.
(SP)
"
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Parking Tips for Amsterdam
The official site of Amsterdam Tourism & Convention BoardParking tips: from Park & Ride (P R) areas to car parks: "Parking tips: from Park & Ride (P R) areas to car parks
How can you find a parking space in Amsterdam quickly and without too much stress? Here are six useful tips.
Public transport and taxis
1. Park your car outside the city centre and continue by public transport or taxis. Amsterdam has an intricate tram, bus and subway network, connecting the various districts to the city centre.
2. Notice the parking space designation signs along the approach roads These signs are part of a dynamic parking space designation system helping you find a parking space. The signs are connected to 13 car parks through a central computer, offering you up-to-date information on the availability of parking spaces and the nearest car park upon entering the city.
3. Park & Ride areas
Use one of the guarded Park & Ride areas (P R), which can be found on the outskirts of the city near the ring road A10. Signs along the highways guide you towards the P R areas, from where trams and subways can take you to the city centre. A number of large P R areas:
-P R Sloterdijk
-P R Olympisch Stadion
-P R Diemen-Zuid
-P R Transferium/ArenA (Amsterdam Zuid-Oost; Amsterdam south-east)
-P R Gaasperplas (Amsterdam Zuid-Oost; Amsterdam south-east)
-P R Buikslotermeerplein (Amsterdam-Noord; Amsterdam north)
-P R Zeeburg (Oostelijk Havengebied)
4. Official parking space
Park your car in an official parking space near a ticket machine. Within the ring road A10, you are only allowed to park there and in car parks. The ticket machines are recognisable by a blue light box with the letter P. There is a total of approximately 80,000 parking spaces there.
If you do not have a valid parking ticket, you need to pay the indicated fee at the ticket machine. If you don’t, you run the risk of finding a wheel clamp on your car upon your return, or even having your car towed.
5. Car parks
Park your car in one of the eleven car parks in Amsterdam, which are located in and around the city centre. The rates range from € 1.50 to € 3.00 per hour. A number of large car parks:
-P1 Parking Amsterdam Centre
-Parking RAI
-Parking World Trade Center Amsterdam
-More car parks
6. Parking Reservation Line
Book a parking space in a car park by calling the Parking Reservation Line, to which a number of car parks in Amsterdam is connected. This reservation line allows you to book a parking space through a credit card number from a month to two hours in advance. Parking Reservation Line: 0900 – 202 2002
More about the Parking Reservation Line
NB: Watch out for car theft
Do not leave your valuables in your car!"
How can you find a parking space in Amsterdam quickly and without too much stress? Here are six useful tips.
Public transport and taxis
1. Park your car outside the city centre and continue by public transport or taxis. Amsterdam has an intricate tram, bus and subway network, connecting the various districts to the city centre.
2. Notice the parking space designation signs along the approach roads These signs are part of a dynamic parking space designation system helping you find a parking space. The signs are connected to 13 car parks through a central computer, offering you up-to-date information on the availability of parking spaces and the nearest car park upon entering the city.
3. Park & Ride areas
Use one of the guarded Park & Ride areas (P R), which can be found on the outskirts of the city near the ring road A10. Signs along the highways guide you towards the P R areas, from where trams and subways can take you to the city centre. A number of large P R areas:
-P R Sloterdijk
-P R Olympisch Stadion
-P R Diemen-Zuid
-P R Transferium/ArenA (Amsterdam Zuid-Oost; Amsterdam south-east)
-P R Gaasperplas (Amsterdam Zuid-Oost; Amsterdam south-east)
-P R Buikslotermeerplein (Amsterdam-Noord; Amsterdam north)
-P R Zeeburg (Oostelijk Havengebied)
4. Official parking space
Park your car in an official parking space near a ticket machine. Within the ring road A10, you are only allowed to park there and in car parks. The ticket machines are recognisable by a blue light box with the letter P. There is a total of approximately 80,000 parking spaces there.
If you do not have a valid parking ticket, you need to pay the indicated fee at the ticket machine. If you don’t, you run the risk of finding a wheel clamp on your car upon your return, or even having your car towed.
5. Car parks
Park your car in one of the eleven car parks in Amsterdam, which are located in and around the city centre. The rates range from € 1.50 to € 3.00 per hour. A number of large car parks:
-P1 Parking Amsterdam Centre
-Parking RAI
-Parking World Trade Center Amsterdam
-More car parks
6. Parking Reservation Line
Book a parking space in a car park by calling the Parking Reservation Line, to which a number of car parks in Amsterdam is connected. This reservation line allows you to book a parking space through a credit card number from a month to two hours in advance. Parking Reservation Line: 0900 – 202 2002
More about the Parking Reservation Line
NB: Watch out for car theft
Do not leave your valuables in your car!"
Parking Ticket Rules in Holland
The official site of Amsterdam Tourism & Convention BoardPenalties parking violations / Service points Stadstoezicht Amsterdam: "Penalties parking violations / Service points Stadstoezicht Amsterdam
To make optimal use of the available parking spaces in the city, Stadstoezicht – under the authority of the City of Amsterdam – sees to a strict compliance of the parking rules. If the employees of Stadstoezicht cannot detect a valid parking ticket behind your windscreen, you will receive a fine and a wheel clamp on your car so as to ensure payment. Incorrectly parked cars that form an obstacle to the other traffic, are even towed.
Wheel clamp removal
What to do to remove a wheel clamp? You can pay the fine (approximately € 70.00) in two ways:
- at your car with a credit card or Dutch debit card. Call Stadstoezicht Amsterdam. A Pay-and-Go car of Stadstoezicht will then be dispatched to your car, after which you can pay your fine.
- pay in cash at one of the service points of Stadstoezicht. The wheel clamp is removed within half an hour after payment.
Do not postpone payment too long; your car is towed after 24 hours. The costs involved are over € 150.-.
More about the wheel clamp
Collecting your towed car
If your car has been towed, you can collect it at the Stadstoezicht depot at the Dani�l Goedkoopstraat (additional costs over € 150,00).
Address info
Service points Stadstoezicht
The addresses and public transport connections of the Service points Stadstoezicht:
-Payment office and Service point Dani�l Goedkoopstraat
-Service point Stadstoezicht Beukenplein
- Service point Stadstoezicht De Clerqstraat
-Service point Stadstoezicht Weesperstraat"
To make optimal use of the available parking spaces in the city, Stadstoezicht – under the authority of the City of Amsterdam – sees to a strict compliance of the parking rules. If the employees of Stadstoezicht cannot detect a valid parking ticket behind your windscreen, you will receive a fine and a wheel clamp on your car so as to ensure payment. Incorrectly parked cars that form an obstacle to the other traffic, are even towed.
Wheel clamp removal
What to do to remove a wheel clamp? You can pay the fine (approximately € 70.00) in two ways:
- at your car with a credit card or Dutch debit card. Call Stadstoezicht Amsterdam. A Pay-and-Go car of Stadstoezicht will then be dispatched to your car, after which you can pay your fine.
- pay in cash at one of the service points of Stadstoezicht. The wheel clamp is removed within half an hour after payment.
Do not postpone payment too long; your car is towed after 24 hours. The costs involved are over € 150.-.
More about the wheel clamp
Collecting your towed car
If your car has been towed, you can collect it at the Stadstoezicht depot at the Dani�l Goedkoopstraat (additional costs over € 150,00).
Address info
Service points Stadstoezicht
The addresses and public transport connections of the Service points Stadstoezicht:
-Payment office and Service point Dani�l Goedkoopstraat
-Service point Stadstoezicht Beukenplein
- Service point Stadstoezicht De Clerqstraat
-Service point Stadstoezicht Weesperstraat"
Holland - Driving License Rules
USA - Go to - Travel information - by car - driverslicense: "Whether your driver's license is valid in Holland depends on where it was issued.
International driver's license
It is handy, but not compulsory to have an international driver's license. We do advise to use an international driver's license if your license is in a language other than English. You can apply for an international license at the automobile association in your own country.
Member states European Union
Driver's licenses issued in one of the member states of the European Union and in Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway are valid in Holland.
Other countries
In all other cases you might have to show an international driver's license. You can apply for an international license at the automobile association in your own country."
International driver's license
It is handy, but not compulsory to have an international driver's license. We do advise to use an international driver's license if your license is in a language other than English. You can apply for an international license at the automobile association in your own country.
Member states European Union
Driver's licenses issued in one of the member states of the European Union and in Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway are valid in Holland.
Other countries
In all other cases you might have to show an international driver's license. You can apply for an international license at the automobile association in your own country."
Holland - Traffic Rules continued
USA - Go to - Travel information - by car - trafficrules: " * Buses leaving a bus stop within the city, always have right of way.
* Vehicles with flashing lights or sirens always have right of way.
* Trams usually have right of way, unless you are driving on a priority road.
Roundabouts and priority rules
* Roundabouts are passed right-on, unless indicated differently.
* The same rule applies to crossings, fit roundabouts.
Seat belts
* Seat belts are mandatory.
* Children younger than 12 years old must be seated in the back.
* Baby seats, if installed, must be used.
Speed limits
* 50 km an hour within built-up areas;
* 80 km an hour on secondary roads;
* 100 or 120 km an hour (depending on the road signs) on the highways and freeways.
Traffic signs
Basically, traffic signs with red circles are prohibitory signs and warn you of a restriction. Red triangles inform you of danger concerning the road condition. A yellow or orange diamond indicates that you are driving on a priority road and blue signs tell you what is allowed."
* Vehicles with flashing lights or sirens always have right of way.
* Trams usually have right of way, unless you are driving on a priority road.
Roundabouts and priority rules
* Roundabouts are passed right-on, unless indicated differently.
* The same rule applies to crossings, fit roundabouts.
Seat belts
* Seat belts are mandatory.
* Children younger than 12 years old must be seated in the back.
* Baby seats, if installed, must be used.
Speed limits
* 50 km an hour within built-up areas;
* 80 km an hour on secondary roads;
* 100 or 120 km an hour (depending on the road signs) on the highways and freeways.
Traffic signs
Basically, traffic signs with red circles are prohibitory signs and warn you of a restriction. Red triangles inform you of danger concerning the road condition. A yellow or orange diamond indicates that you are driving on a priority road and blue signs tell you what is allowed."
Pedestrians, blind, visually impaired or disabled people - Traffic Rules in Hollannd -
USA - Go to - Travel information - by car - trafficrules: " *
Pedestrians, blind, visually impaired or disabled people
* Pedestrians have right of way, when they are on a pedestrian crossing or just about to step on to a pedestrian crossing.
* In case there is no way-side station, pedestrians getting off a public transport vehicle have right of way.
* Blind or people with a guide stick or guide dog always have right of way.
* Disabled people always have right of way.
* Wheelchair users and people in vehicles adapted to the needs of disabled people who are intending to cross the road or are on the road already, always have right of way. "
Pedestrians, blind, visually impaired or disabled people
* Pedestrians have right of way, when they are on a pedestrian crossing or just about to step on to a pedestrian crossing.
* In case there is no way-side station, pedestrians getting off a public transport vehicle have right of way.
* Blind or people with a guide stick or guide dog always have right of way.
* Disabled people always have right of way.
* Wheelchair users and people in vehicles adapted to the needs of disabled people who are intending to cross the road or are on the road already, always have right of way. "
Holland Traffic Rules - Priority on the Road
USA - Go to - Travel information - by car - trafficrules: "Priority rules on the Road
* All traffic coming from the right (including bicycles) has right of way.
* Cars turning left must give priority to traffic (please note: also pedestrians and cyclists) continuing on on the same road.
* Turning right has priority above turning left (at crossings, etc.).
* All traffic has right of way while performing special actions. "
* All traffic coming from the right (including bicycles) has right of way.
* Cars turning left must give priority to traffic (please note: also pedestrians and cyclists) continuing on on the same road.
* Turning right has priority above turning left (at crossings, etc.).
* All traffic has right of way while performing special actions. "
Holland Travel information - by car - trafficrules
USA - Go to - Travel information - by car - trafficrules: " * .
Driving in Holland
* Drive on the right-hand side of the road, unless indicators or traffic signs tell you otherwise
* Adjust your speed to the traffic situation or maximum speeds indicated.
* The maximum speed on Dutch roads varies: highways = 120 km/hr, freeways = 100 km/hr, outside built-up areas = 80 km/hr, built-up areas = 50 km/hr.
* Cars are not allowed on pathways, sidewalks or traffic lanes intended for bicycles/mopeds/pedestrians.
* Always use your indicator while make a turn or passing other vehicles.
* While driving you must never obstruct other traffic.
* Dangerous situations must be avoided.
* Overtake other traffic on the left. Should this be impossible you are allowed to pass on the right-hand side of the vehicle.
* You may never overtake other traffic in case this causes danger / an obstruction for other traffic, where traffic signs prohibit overtaking, if you are being overtaken yourself, in a bend or heading towards a bend, on or when approaching a pedestrian crossing.
* Never overtake other traffic where there is uninterrupted line.
* Traffic rules must always be adhered to.
* Traffic signs and traffic indications must be followed.
Extreme weather conditions
You must be extra careful and reduce speed in case of:
* heavy rainfall;
* glazed frost;
* heavy frost;
* snowfall;
* fog.
Always use dipped headlights in case of bad visibility!
"
Driving in Holland
* Drive on the right-hand side of the road, unless indicators or traffic signs tell you otherwise
* Adjust your speed to the traffic situation or maximum speeds indicated.
* The maximum speed on Dutch roads varies: highways = 120 km/hr, freeways = 100 km/hr, outside built-up areas = 80 km/hr, built-up areas = 50 km/hr.
* Cars are not allowed on pathways, sidewalks or traffic lanes intended for bicycles/mopeds/pedestrians.
* Always use your indicator while make a turn or passing other vehicles.
* While driving you must never obstruct other traffic.
* Dangerous situations must be avoided.
* Overtake other traffic on the left. Should this be impossible you are allowed to pass on the right-hand side of the vehicle.
* You may never overtake other traffic in case this causes danger / an obstruction for other traffic, where traffic signs prohibit overtaking, if you are being overtaken yourself, in a bend or heading towards a bend, on or when approaching a pedestrian crossing.
* Never overtake other traffic where there is uninterrupted line.
* Traffic rules must always be adhered to.
* Traffic signs and traffic indications must be followed.
Extreme weather conditions
You must be extra careful and reduce speed in case of:
* heavy rainfall;
* glazed frost;
* heavy frost;
* snowfall;
* fog.
Always use dipped headlights in case of bad visibility!
"
USA - Go to - Travel information - by car - trafficrules
USA - Go to - Travel information - by car - trafficrules: "Crossings and priority rules In Holland
* When approaching a priority crossing you must give way to other drivers.
* On crossings of unequal roads, other drivers have right of way if they are on a priority road
* On crossings of equal roads, drivers coming from the right have right of way.
* Drivers, cyclists and pedestrians have right of way, if coming from an exit or hereditary. "
* When approaching a priority crossing you must give way to other drivers.
* On crossings of unequal roads, other drivers have right of way if they are on a priority road
* On crossings of equal roads, drivers coming from the right have right of way.
* Drivers, cyclists and pedestrians have right of way, if coming from an exit or hereditary. "
USA - Go to - Travel information - by car - parking
USA - Go to - Travel information - by car - parking: "Parking in general
Holland has, like most European countries, many cities in which you have to pay for parking on the streets. Where applicable, observe parking meter regulations carefully. Make sure that the time of your stay does not exceed the parking time you have paid for. Otherwise, you might end up with a severe fine, a wheel clamp or, even worse, find your car has been towed away!
Free parking or inexpensive parking is available in the P R parking areas at railway stations or at transferiums, located on the outskirts of the city. Many people find it easier to choose one of these options and take advantage of public transportation.
General parking rules
* Parking and pulling up are prohibited in case this causes danger for other road users or in case there are traffic signs prohibiting this.
* It is prohibited to park or stop alongside a uninterrupted yellow line.
* It is prohibited to park or stop on biking lanes, bus lanes, railway crossings, crossroads, exits, priority streets outside the city area or at parking areas allocated meant for other vehicles."
Holland has, like most European countries, many cities in which you have to pay for parking on the streets. Where applicable, observe parking meter regulations carefully. Make sure that the time of your stay does not exceed the parking time you have paid for. Otherwise, you might end up with a severe fine, a wheel clamp or, even worse, find your car has been towed away!
Free parking or inexpensive parking is available in the P R parking areas at railway stations or at transferiums, located on the outskirts of the city. Many people find it easier to choose one of these options and take advantage of public transportation.
General parking rules
* Parking and pulling up are prohibited in case this causes danger for other road users or in case there are traffic signs prohibiting this.
* It is prohibited to park or stop alongside a uninterrupted yellow line.
* It is prohibited to park or stop on biking lanes, bus lanes, railway crossings, crossroads, exits, priority streets outside the city area or at parking areas allocated meant for other vehicles."
Incorrect signs and road marking
I am becoming concerned by the actions of councils apparently
deliberately failing to correct incorrect signs and road marking and
continuing to issue parking tickets at those places.
If motorists should ensure that signs and road marking are clear and
unambiguous if they get a parking ticket - if they are not appeal.
Remember you can fight back against illegally issued parking tickets.
If you want to appealsuch a parking ticket but don't know how - then
visit the AppealNow.com™ where you can appeal online in 4½ minutes.
© 2006 Barrie Segal and AppealNow.com™ - All Rights
reserved
Barrie Segal is the founder of AppealNow.com™ and is a
regular radio broadcaster in the UK.
deliberately failing to correct incorrect signs and road marking and
continuing to issue parking tickets at those places.
If motorists should ensure that signs and road marking are clear and
unambiguous if they get a parking ticket - if they are not appeal.
Remember you can fight back against illegally issued parking tickets.
If you want to appealsuch a parking ticket but don't know how - then
visit the AppealNow.com™ where you can appeal online in 4½ minutes.
© 2006 Barrie Segal and AppealNow.com™ - All Rights
reserved
Barrie Segal is the founder of AppealNow.com™ and is a
regular radio broadcaster in the UK.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Future Articles
As you know I am very keen on on the use of computers and am going to be adding articles on the following subjects:
gpl linux cad and what it means for you.
Licenses: gnu public licence and software licenses - what they are and how they affect your business
The use of licensing software and software licensing agreements - the do's and don'ts
svg vector - what this implies.
Using company logo designs and logo designs generally. How you can benefit from a properly thought out company design logo
svg editor download, how to run this
How to use svg applications
Your trademark logo and its importance to you business
Your software licensing policy- getting the legal points sorted
scalable vector graphics and their uses
Remember you can fight back against illegally issued parking tickets. If you want to appealsuch a parking ticket but don't know how - then visit the AppealNow.com™ blog or go to: http://www.appealnow.com where you can appeal online in 4½ minutes.
© 2006 Barrie Segal and AppealNow.com™ - All Rights reserved
Barrie Segal is the founder of AppealNow.com™ and is a regular radio broadcaster in the UK.
gpl linux cad and what it means for you.
Licenses: gnu public licence and software licenses - what they are and how they affect your business
The use of licensing software and software licensing agreements - the do's and don'ts
svg vector - what this implies.
Using company logo designs and logo designs generally. How you can benefit from a properly thought out company design logo
svg editor download, how to run this
How to use svg applications
Your trademark logo and its importance to you business
Your software licensing policy- getting the legal points sorted
scalable vector graphics and their uses
Remember you can fight back against illegally issued parking tickets. If you want to appealsuch a parking ticket but don't know how - then visit the AppealNow.com™ blog or go to: http://www.appealnow.com where you can appeal online in 4½ minutes.
© 2006 Barrie Segal and AppealNow.com™ - All Rights reserved
Barrie Segal is the founder of AppealNow.com™ and is a regular radio broadcaster in the UK.
Friday, October 13, 2006
Westminster Council Residents parking
Transport and streets:Residents parking: "Residents parking
The demand for parking in Westminster is ever increasing. With the limited amount of safe on-street parking space available, we believe residents should have priority in parking near their home and so have allocated specific spaces in which only residents can park with a Resident Parking Permit. In addition, the City of Westminster operates a resident parking scheme for off-street parking in our MasterPark car parks.
Renew your Resident Parking Permit online
Existing permit holders who have received the appropriate renewal letter with an online PIN are now able to renew their permits online.
If you have received a renewal letter, please renew your permit online now...
Please note that letters are usually sent out approximately three weeks before a permit is due to expire. If you have not received a renewal letter after this time, please contact us.
Parking on the Street
On-street parking within Westminster is divided into 8 different resident parking zones (A-H).
If you live in one of these zones and can prove that you own or use a vehicle, you may be entitled to a resident parking permit according to your residential address. Find out more about the Residents’ On-Street Parking Scheme.
Alternatively, you can also find out about renewing, updating, replacing or returning your permit.
Information regarding suspensions is also available online.
Parking in a Car Park
The City of Westminster operates a discounted residents' parking scheme for off-street parking - a Resident Season Ticket. Local residents may be eligible to buy a permit to park at a MasterPark car park, by providing proof of residency and ownership of the vehicle. Residents will be allocated to the car park closest to their address, subject to capacity limits.
On issue of a Resident Season Ticket the car park operator will provide you with a car park swipe card that will operate the car park barrier.
On-street permit holders also receive a 25% discount at any MasterPark car park at any time. In order to qualify for this discount, residents need only supply the car park Attendant with their on-street permit number at time of payment.
To find out more information about this scheme or any other MasterPark scheme, please visit MasterPark.
To apply for a MasterPark Season Ticket Application Pack, please contact MasterPark on freephone 0800 243 348"
The demand for parking in Westminster is ever increasing. With the limited amount of safe on-street parking space available, we believe residents should have priority in parking near their home and so have allocated specific spaces in which only residents can park with a Resident Parking Permit. In addition, the City of Westminster operates a resident parking scheme for off-street parking in our MasterPark car parks.
Renew your Resident Parking Permit online
Existing permit holders who have received the appropriate renewal letter with an online PIN are now able to renew their permits online.
If you have received a renewal letter, please renew your permit online now...
Please note that letters are usually sent out approximately three weeks before a permit is due to expire. If you have not received a renewal letter after this time, please contact us.
Parking on the Street
On-street parking within Westminster is divided into 8 different resident parking zones (A-H).
If you live in one of these zones and can prove that you own or use a vehicle, you may be entitled to a resident parking permit according to your residential address. Find out more about the Residents’ On-Street Parking Scheme.
Alternatively, you can also find out about renewing, updating, replacing or returning your permit.
Information regarding suspensions is also available online.
Parking in a Car Park
The City of Westminster operates a discounted residents' parking scheme for off-street parking - a Resident Season Ticket. Local residents may be eligible to buy a permit to park at a MasterPark car park, by providing proof of residency and ownership of the vehicle. Residents will be allocated to the car park closest to their address, subject to capacity limits.
On issue of a Resident Season Ticket the car park operator will provide you with a car park swipe card that will operate the car park barrier.
On-street permit holders also receive a 25% discount at any MasterPark car park at any time. In order to qualify for this discount, residents need only supply the car park Attendant with their on-street permit number at time of payment.
To find out more information about this scheme or any other MasterPark scheme, please visit MasterPark.
To apply for a MasterPark Season Ticket Application Pack, please contact MasterPark on freephone 0800 243 348"
Westminster Council's White badge conditions
Transport and streets:White badge conditions: "White badge conditions
What Are the Conditions for Using White Badges?
Your badge should be displayed in your vehicle, when the following conditions are met:
* when your vehicle is parked at your home, or place of work;
* when your car is being used to take you to or from somewhere; or
* when your vehicle is parked close to where you are being dropped off or picked up.
The badge should not be displayed if your vehicle is being used for any other reason.
Permit fraud will be prosecuted!
It is a criminal offence to deliberately make a false statement on your application form, or to use a disabled parking permit you are not entitled to. Those who commit permit fraud will be prosecuted and face large fines or imprisonment.
If you suspect someone of using a parking permit they are not entitled to please contact the Permit Fraud Hotline on 020 7641 5278."
What Are the Conditions for Using White Badges?
Your badge should be displayed in your vehicle, when the following conditions are met:
* when your vehicle is parked at your home, or place of work;
* when your car is being used to take you to or from somewhere; or
* when your vehicle is parked close to where you are being dropped off or picked up.
The badge should not be displayed if your vehicle is being used for any other reason.
Permit fraud will be prosecuted!
It is a criminal offence to deliberately make a false statement on your application form, or to use a disabled parking permit you are not entitled to. Those who commit permit fraud will be prosecuted and face large fines or imprisonment.
If you suspect someone of using a parking permit they are not entitled to please contact the Permit Fraud Hotline on 020 7641 5278."
Lambeth council has removed the performance-related profit element of its contract with Control Plus.
icSouthlondon - Playing fair with parking: "Playing fair with parking
Oct 13 2006
By Chief Reporter Greg Truscott
TRAFFIC wardens in a borough infamous for its controversial parking enforcement will no longer have to dole out a minimum number of tickets per shift.
Lambeth council has removed the performance-related profit element of its contract with Control Plus.
Previously, wardens had to issue a total of at least 4,000 tickets a week to maximise the company's profits.
Critics said it was this element that led to a high number of dodgy tickets being issued.
According to figures released in August, Lambeth issued 255,066 fines between April 2005 and March 2006. Neighbouring Southwark issued 135,000 and Lewisham 63,000."
But this week, Labour-run Lambeth announced it was to bring an end to the incentives system that had seen wardens too quick to dole out penalty charge notices (PCNs).
From November,Control Plus will not profit from reaching ticket targets but will instead be monitored and rewarded for treating motorists fairly.
Lambeth's cabinet member for environment, Councillor Lib Peck, said: 'For too long, the parking policy in Lambeth has not offered fairness to residents.
'It was a key pledge of this administration to make parking in Lambeth fairer for local people and we are delivering on that promise.
'This is a fresh start on parking policy. We have listened to residents who told us they were unhappy with the old system where too often parking attendants were overzealous, and we are putting in place a parking policy that is firm but fair.'
Cllr Peck said traffic wardens would be monitored to ensure they behaved properly and that 'mystery shoppers' would be used to test the parking enforcement service.
Traffic wardens will also be measured on the number of individual streets they visit so that they do not loiter in easy-to-ticket areas.
The contract with Control Plus is to be carefully monitored to ensure it provides a fair service and will be fully reassessed when it comes up for renewal in 2008.
Lambeth's deputy cabinet member for parking and transport, Cllr Nigel Haselden, said: 'We will keep a close eye on the contract to make sure it is working for residents.'"
Oct 13 2006
By Chief Reporter Greg Truscott
TRAFFIC wardens in a borough infamous for its controversial parking enforcement will no longer have to dole out a minimum number of tickets per shift.
Lambeth council has removed the performance-related profit element of its contract with Control Plus.
Previously, wardens had to issue a total of at least 4,000 tickets a week to maximise the company's profits.
Critics said it was this element that led to a high number of dodgy tickets being issued.
According to figures released in August, Lambeth issued 255,066 fines between April 2005 and March 2006. Neighbouring Southwark issued 135,000 and Lewisham 63,000."
But this week, Labour-run Lambeth announced it was to bring an end to the incentives system that had seen wardens too quick to dole out penalty charge notices (PCNs).
From November,Control Plus will not profit from reaching ticket targets but will instead be monitored and rewarded for treating motorists fairly.
Lambeth's cabinet member for environment, Councillor Lib Peck, said: 'For too long, the parking policy in Lambeth has not offered fairness to residents.
'It was a key pledge of this administration to make parking in Lambeth fairer for local people and we are delivering on that promise.
'This is a fresh start on parking policy. We have listened to residents who told us they were unhappy with the old system where too often parking attendants were overzealous, and we are putting in place a parking policy that is firm but fair.'
Cllr Peck said traffic wardens would be monitored to ensure they behaved properly and that 'mystery shoppers' would be used to test the parking enforcement service.
Traffic wardens will also be measured on the number of individual streets they visit so that they do not loiter in easy-to-ticket areas.
The contract with Control Plus is to be carefully monitored to ensure it provides a fair service and will be fully reassessed when it comes up for renewal in 2008.
Lambeth's deputy cabinet member for parking and transport, Cllr Nigel Haselden, said: 'We will keep a close eye on the contract to make sure it is working for residents.'"
Council loses out in parking appeal
Council loses out in parking appeal
/By Karen Spibey <mailto:kspibey@burytimes.co.uk>/
BURY Council has lost out in a bid to overturn a Prestwich solicitor's
parking ticket victory - but is now considering another legal challenge.
Aubrey Isaacson is now calling on the council to admit that "enough is
enough" and to stop spending public funds on fighting the case.
Mr Isaacson initially won his case over an "invalid" parking ticket at a
hearing before the National Parking Adjudication Service in Manchester
in August.
<http://ads-delivery1.newsquest.co.uk/RealMedia/ads/click_lx.ads/www.thisislancashire.co.uk/news/localnews/display.var.965564.0.council_loses_out_in_parking_appeal.php/893808811/Frame2/default/empty.gif/35306138653036343435326637636530>
However, car parking bosses at the town hall launched an appeal against
the adjudicators' decision and called for a review.
Earlier last week, the adjudicator rejected Bury Council's request and
further criticised the authority for not amending its Traffic Regulation
Orders following de-criminalisation of parking offences in 2002.
Bury Council, however, said they STILL believe they have a strong case
against Mr Isaacson and are currently seeking legal advice on whether to
proceed to a judicial review. Mr Isaacson, who is now seeking recompense
for his time and effort, which has so far reached more than £1,600 for
his and a client's case. said: "I am Bury taxpayer and all I am asking
is that they stop throwing good money after bad. The money that has been
spent so far on this case, and what the legal department is proposing to
continue to spend seems an absolute waste, when they are clearly wrong."
Coun John Byrne, executive member for transport, said: "The fact remains
that Mr Isaacson did infringe the law when parking and I hope that we do
get his parking fine. We still believe we have a case and if counsel
confirms this then we will seek a judicial review. The adjudicator
brought up points that had not been raised previously and that is what
we objected to."
Following the adjudicators' decision, Bury Council were asked to set out
their reasons in full, within 14 days.
However, they failed to comply to these guidelines and the adjudicator
rejected their application for review on the grounds that they had not
provided sufficient details of their argument.
Mr Isaacson said: "Bury bungles again! They couldn't even get this
right. The adjudicator calls for commonsense when dealing with parking
enforcment, but sadly, commonsense seems to have gone out of the window
in the ever increasing search by local authorities for revenue form the
motorist."
Mr Isaacson had received his parking ticket for not parking correctly
within white lines on the Longfield Centre car park. After studying the
Traffic Regulation Order (TRO), he discovered that Bury Council should
have stated on the ticket that it would be an offence if he failed to
pay the Penalty Charge Notice.
However, when the case was heard at the National Parking Adjudication
Service, it became apparent that the council was endorsing an invalid
Traffic Regulation Order as parking offences had been decriminalised in
2002.
Mr Isaacson also won an appeal on behalf of his client Mr David Silver,
who had received a ticket for not displaying his disabled badge correctly.
The adjudicator also rejected the council's application for review in Mr
Silver's case for the same reasons and warned that the council should
not have issued a ticket for failure to display.
Review adjudicator Stephen Knapp said: "It seems to me that the
adjudicator is correct in his view that the council has made no effort
to review or individually amend its TROs despite the fact that a simple
mechanism is provided for this purpose. Given this simple procedure, it
is difficult to understand why the council could not make the necessary
modifications."
Why You Should Not Buy A Used Motorcycle Helmet
Why You Should Not Buy A Used Motorcycle Helmet
by: Low Jeremy
A motorcycle helmet is one of those essentials that will help save your life should you have an accident while riding your bike. This will protect your head from a damaging and even potentially fatal head injury. Motorcycle helmets are so important that state lawmakers have even included a directive in the state laws that orders all people riding the motorcycle to wear helmets.
Some people though do not understand the importance of this accessory. In fact, some people do not even like wearing it because it is too heavy and too suffocating. Others find it a killjoy to not be able to feel the wind on their faces when riding a motorbike.
Motorcycle helmets are not really that expensive but they are also not cheap. Some who are not that well-informed will probably save all their money for the motorcycle leaving a really small budget for safety gears like the helmet. Some even buy used helmets instead of new ones. This, however, is one practice that should not be encouraged.
Using used helmets is extremely dangerous and impractical. Used helmets are actually worthless and what is more you cannot really tell whether they are damaged or not. You won’t even be able to tell if they are relatively new ones or not. This is because the helmet is made from a hard outer shell that envelops a layer of expanded polystyrene. You will never be able to tell if the expanded polystyrene is already compressed or not unless you cut the outer shell. An already compressed polystyrene layer will not protect you from an accident.
Another thing that you should consider is the fact that polystyrene becomes brittle as it ages. This is the reason why old helmets should be exchanged for new ones in a couple of years as it may not be able to absorb much of the impact when an accident does happen. The polystyrene layer is also easily damaged by the sun and by chemicals such as gas vapors.
Motor bikers who always place their helmet near the gas tank will also unknowingly damage the lining of the helmet. It is also not a good idea to always let the helmet sit under the heat of the sun. If you can, try to park your motorbike in areas that are shaded. Pointed objects may also compromise the lifespan of the helmet by piercing through the polystyrene layer inside.
About The Author
This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more information on Motorcycle Helmets & other useful information, please visit http://motorcycle-helmet.articlekeep.com.
Some people though do not understand the importance of this accessory. In fact, some people do not even like wearing it because it is too heavy and too suffocating. Others find it a killjoy to not be able to feel the wind on their faces when riding a motorbike.
Motorcycle helmets are not really that expensive but they are also not cheap. Some who are not that well-informed will probably save all their money for the motorcycle leaving a really small budget for safety gears like the helmet. Some even buy used helmets instead of new ones. This, however, is one practice that should not be encouraged.
Using used helmets is extremely dangerous and impractical. Used helmets are actually worthless and what is more you cannot really tell whether they are damaged or not. You won’t even be able to tell if they are relatively new ones or not. This is because the helmet is made from a hard outer shell that envelops a layer of expanded polystyrene. You will never be able to tell if the expanded polystyrene is already compressed or not unless you cut the outer shell. An already compressed polystyrene layer will not protect you from an accident.
Another thing that you should consider is the fact that polystyrene becomes brittle as it ages. This is the reason why old helmets should be exchanged for new ones in a couple of years as it may not be able to absorb much of the impact when an accident does happen. The polystyrene layer is also easily damaged by the sun and by chemicals such as gas vapors.
Motor bikers who always place their helmet near the gas tank will also unknowingly damage the lining of the helmet. It is also not a good idea to always let the helmet sit under the heat of the sun. If you can, try to park your motorbike in areas that are shaded. Pointed objects may also compromise the lifespan of the helmet by piercing through the polystyrene layer inside.
About The Author
This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more information on Motorcycle Helmets & other useful information, please visit http://motorcycle-helmet.articlekeep.com.
DRIVING IN SPAIN - USEFUL INFORMATION
Driving Licence
Any driving licence issued in the EU is valid in any EU country. Driving licences issued in
Under the age of 45, driving licences are valid for 10 years, between the ages of 45 and 70 licences are valid for 5 years. Over the age of 70 you will have to renew your licence every year.
Driving tests are taken on a machine, rather like a computer rally game, and involves anwering questions about the Highway Code.
Which side do the Spanish drive on?
The first point to remember is that the Spanish drive on the right hand side. If you take your own right hand drive car to
Petrol
Gasolina fuel is available in four grades: Super Plus (98 octane), Super (96 octane) and often sin plomo unleaded, Mezcla or
What do I need to carry with me when driving?
A new road safety law came in force in 2004: all drivers must now have at least one luminous jacket available in any vehicle whilst on the road. The law states that this jacket must be worn if you breakdown on any highway.
The jackets are relatively cheap and available at many supermarkets and car shops.
In
General rules
Yellow Lines mean "No parking". Many people ignore this. Cars can be clamped for being on yellow lines. Unknown costs to retrieve.
Blue Lines mean "Find a meter" and pay for the time you require. Meters are situated at the side of the road or against buildings. The authorities rarely chase people who fail to pay but when you come to sell your property all such tickets are registered against the property as a debt, plus interest.
Cars may also be towed if found parking without a valid ticket.
If you do find a parking fine stuck under your windscreen wiper you will find a form and a small envelope attached, you have the option to fill in the form, pay the amount it asks for into one of the parking ticket machines.
Firstly press the Red button, pay in the money then press the Blue button. The machine will print out a receipt.
Detach the small receipt portion at the bottom, then place the other portion and the form into the envelope and post in the slot at the bottom of the machine.
Retain your proof of payment or it can be more expensive later.
Many supermarkets have their own free car park but in some you have to collect a ficha (disk) for raising the exit gate when paying for shopping.
Halt signs in
Well, there you have it: by following some simple guidelines for driving, your time in
http://www.spanish-property-today.com
http://www.spanish-property-for-sale.tv
About the Author
Grace Turner is a Director of
http://www.spanish-property-today.com
http://www.spanish-property-for-sale.tv
Editor:
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Councils are Up to their Old Tricks
Many local authorities are up to their old tricks and are trying to give motorists with parking tickets when they are not applicable.
Many are claiming that the "Moses - v- Barnet" Case in the High Court does not apply to them as it only applied to Barnet Council. This absurd view is incorrect, the High Court decision applied to the whole of the United Kingdom. How do I know? Because I represented Mr. Moses in the High Court.
So remember you can fight back against illegally issued parking tickets. If you want to appealsuch a parking ticket but don't know how - then visit the AppealNow.com™ blog or go to: http://www.appealnow.com where you can appeal online in 4½ minutes.
Many are claiming that the "Moses - v- Barnet" Case in the High Court does not apply to them as it only applied to Barnet Council. This absurd view is incorrect, the High Court decision applied to the whole of the United Kingdom. How do I know? Because I represented Mr. Moses in the High Court.
So remember you can fight back against illegally issued parking tickets. If you want to appealsuch a parking ticket but don't know how - then visit the AppealNow.com™ blog or go to: http://www.appealnow.com where you can appeal online in 4½ minutes.
© 2006 Barrie Segal and AppealNow.com™ - All Rights reserved
Barrie Segal is the founder of AppealNow.com™ and is a regular radio broadcaster in the UK.
Friday, September 29, 2006
Parking Tickets Extreme
The "Moses" case in the High Court established that invalid parking tickets are unenforceable and a nullity. This means that it is a though they never happened. In my view therefore any parking tickets whicjh are a nullity and which were paid must be refunds.
Barrie Segal
Founder of AppealNow.com
http://appealnow.com
Barrie Segal
Founder of AppealNow.com
http://appealnow.com
Parking Ticket Case - Moses - V- Barnet - Judgment Published
The High Court Judgment in the case known as the "Moses Case" relating to the validity of parking tickets in the UK has now been published.
The formal name is:
The formal name is:
| THE QUEEN ON THE APPLICATION OF THE | (CLAIMANT) |
| -v - | |
| THE PARKING ADJUDICATOR | (DEFENDANT) |
Thursday, August 17, 2006
AppealNow.com Viral Advertising
If you have not seen the award winning video from AppealNow.com click below!!
Thursday, August 03, 2006
High Court Parking Ticket Victory for Motorists
High Court Parking Ticket Victory for Motorists
AppealNow.com’s claim that Barnet and other council’s parking tickets are invalid upheld by the High Court.
“I expect to uncover more illegal parking tickets – Millions of pounds are involved” says AppealNow.com’s founder, Barrie Segal.
AppealNow.com’s claim that Barnet and other council’s parking tickets are invalid upheld by the High Court.
“I expect to uncover more illegal parking tickets – Millions of pounds are involved” says AppealNow.com’s founder, Barrie Segal.
Barnet Council’s parking tickets were judged to be invalid in a landmark case decided in the High Court today.
Mr. Justice Jackson ruled that Barnet’s parking tickets were invalid as they did not have two dates on them, one a date of contravention and the other a date of issue.
In the case of Hugh Moses – v - Barnet, Barrie Segal the founder of www.AppealNow.com™, represented Mr. Moses at the Parking Adjudicator and challenged the validity of Barnet Council’s parking tickets on the grounds that they did not have a date of issue. Two separate Parking Adjudicators upheld Mr. Segal’s argument and agreed that Barnet Council’s parking tickets were invalid.
Barnet Council took the matter to the High Court and challenged the decisions.
Today’s test case decision by Mr. Justice Jackson ruled that Barnet’s parking tickets were invalid as they did not have two dates on them, one a date of contravention and the other a date of issue. He also said that any parking ticket needs those two dates to be valid.
Barrie of www.AppealNow.com™, who has also successfully challenged the validity of parking tickets of Lambeth and Tower Hamlets says “This is a stunning victory for motorists who have had to put for years with arrogant councils whose parking tickets were invalid. Barnet Council is the worst council - they have even sent bailiffs in to repossess and sell the car of a blue badge driver, all based on these illegally issued parking tickets.
This legal precedent also in my view opens up a huge problems for Councils all over the UK”
Says Barrie “Parking tickets have to comply with a strict legal requirement. Under the Road Traffic Act 1991 the date of issue, amongst other things, must be shown on the parking ticket. In the Barnet and other cases it was not.
I have previously told the Chief Parking Adjudicator in London, the National Parking Appeals Service and the Scottish Appeals Service that in the interests of justice all adjudicators must consider the validity of the parking ticket when the make their decision. The fact that Parking Adjudicators have not done this as a matter of course is unacceptable.. Following this decision they will have no choice.
END
Notes for Editors
Technical information.
The Parking Tickets (technically called a Penalty Charge Notice or PCN) do not comply with Section 66 of the Road Traffic Act 1991(“RTA 1991”)
Section 66 (3) states
(3) A penalty charge notice must state [my emphasis and underlining]—
(a) the grounds on which the parking attendant believes that a penalty charge is payable with respect to the vehicle;
(b) the amount of the penalty charge which is payable;
(c) that the penalty charge must be paid before the end of the period of 28 days beginning with the date of the notice;
(d) that if the penalty charge is paid before the end of the period of 14 days beginning with the date of the notice, the amount of the penalty charge will be reduced by the specified proportion;
(e) that, if the penalty charge is not paid before the end of the 28 day period, a notice to owner may be served by the London authority on the person appearing to them to be the owner of the vehicle;
(f) the address to which payment of the penalty charge must be sent.
Information about Barrie Segal and www.AppealNow.com™,
Barrie Segal, the founder of APPEALNOW.com™, has been described by Richard Hammond of “Top Gear” Fame as the “UK’s leading Parking Ticket expert”. He has reviewed in excess of 6,000 parking tickets.
The Barnet case is the latest in a long line of cases where successfully challenged the legality of three London councils’ parking tickets and had 455,000 annual parking tickets, generating £17 million, declared illegal and unenforceable. He has reviewed approximately 10,000 parking tickets and is currently challenging more local authorities where the annual figures involved are in excess of £60 million. In particular he believes that all of Scotland’s councils have been issuing illegal parking tickets.
He has a regular phone-in programme on TalkSport Radio and is a regular contributor to numerous TV shows and radio programmes, including BBC TV’s BBC London News, Real Story, BBC TV’s Breakfast News, BBC3 TV News, Radio 5.and LBC Radio
Barrie assisted Which? Magazine’s latest report on parking tickets which received the largest number of letters on any subject the magazine has ever received.
He has also given technical advice to many TV programmes on parking tickets, including the BBC’s Whistleblowers series. He has now been asked to give after dinner speeches about the humorous, annoying and downright wicked sides of the parking ticket system.
In 2003, he founded the Crazy Parking Ticket Awards to highlight the absurd way our parking ticket laws are enforced by local authorities. The first year’s winner was a rabbit which had a parking ticket slapped on its hutch.
He has also been in the forefront of viral advertising on the Internet, having commissioned three viral adverts for his AppealNow.com website. Two of those adverts won Gold Awards at the Cannes International Advertising Awards Festival late last year and one of his viral adverts, Kicking, has been seen by an estimated 5 million people on the Internet.
Barrie has submitted evidence on parking matters to both the London Assembly and the Parliamentary Transport Committee on Parking. He also regularly represents clients before the Parking Adjudicator
He believes that one way to help people fight incorrect parking tickets is to use humour to highlight the lengths to which councils go to issue parking tickets. His files contain thousands of stories and anecdotes on parking tickets, clamping and tow-aways, as well as the congestion charge. He has found that the subject of parking tickets is of universal interest to motorists in Britain, few of whom have been lucky enough to escape the scourge of the parking attendant.
In his “other” life, Barrie is a Chartered Accountant who specialises in company turnarounds, financial advice and IT systems for business. In the mid-80s he was Managing Director in charge of U.S. Operations for an internationally famous restaurant chain and for many years was Senior Tax Partner at a well-known firm of Chartered Accountants. He has also lectured extensively on international tax.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Latest Parking News
Latest Parking News is just minutes away. See more about councils illegally sending out bailiffs in respect of illegal parking tickets.
Latest Parking News
Latest Parking News is just minutes away - We will be publishing the latest parking ticket scams!
Friday, July 28, 2006
Parking Ticket Newsletter™ July 2006
Dear AppealNow.com™ Reader
This newsletter deals with the following subjects.
Validity of Parking Tickets
The Parliamentary Transport Committee’s Recommendations on Parking The
Starting Your Own Website
Earlier this year I represented Mr. Hugh Moses at his appeals before the Parking Adjudicator. The appeals related to two parking tickets. Although we contested the reasons for the issue of the parking tickets, in one case it was never put on the vehicle or handed to the driver we also contended that the parking tickets did not comply with the Road Traffic Act 1991.
I have also stated that I believe that ALL parking tickets issued in
Here are some of the 104 recommendations
- More leniency by parking attendants - very good idea but not so far incorporated in the new legislation
- All bonuses and targets must be made illegal - but not so far incorporated in the new legislation
- A more motorist-friendly appeals process with a penalty charge discount re-offered after an informal challenge - Good idea but this requires proper training and councils considering appeals properly.
- More power being given to adjudicators is an excellent idea BUT parking adjudicators must be clearly independent i.e. not funded by the councils as at present. Also Adjudicators should be made to follow set procedures in considering evidence which they currently fail to do to the detriment of motorists.
- Parking attendants will be known as civil enforcement officers. A waste of time - People will still call them parking attendants or parking wardens. Absolutely no point in this
The committee has not dealt satisfactorily with the following
2. The committee has failed to deal adequately with the matter of bailiffs pursuing parking fines. This has reached epidemic proportions and must be sorted out NOW.
They are major problems with the Parking Adjudication Service in the
Friday, June 09, 2006
AppealNow: FEBRUARY PARKING TICKET NEWSLETTER
AppealNow: FEBRUARY PARKING TICKET NEWSLETTER Notify Blogger about objectionable content. Thanks for comment on my blog. You are right: the Council are contesting the decision and I spoke to PTAS this morning, who confirmed they had received the Council's paperwork. It was no idle threat. Appeal Parking Tickets Now!Received Parking Ticket.Do you want to appeal but don't know how- then visit the
AppealNow: Latest Parking Ticket Scam
Appeal Parking Tickets Now!Received Parking Ticket.Do you want to appeal but don't know how- then visit the AppealNow.com blog Barrie Segal is the founder of APPEALNOW.com�. Barrie has been hailed on television as the UK's leading parking ticket expert. Barrie has reviewed more than 6,000 parking tickets issued by local authorities.He has also uncovered numerous parking ticket scams and has app
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
We have discovered the 61st Parking Scam
Read about the amazing parking ticket scams that AppealNow.com™ has uncovered.
AppealNow.com™ is sometimes accused - by the parking authorities - of existing purely to help guilty motorists wriggle out of paying legal fines by using loopholes in the law.
Clamped - but where is the sign?We refute this argument. It is not our aim to help anyone to avoid paying a legally issued fine for a clear-cut offence. However, it is the aim of AppealNow.com to help motorists cut through the red tape to appeal against parking tickets and other penalties that have been issued by incorrect, illegal or underhand means.
In the course of our research, we have found a growing number of examples of parking attendants 'stretching' or breaking the legal regulations so that their parking ticket quotas can be met.
The list of 'tricks' and outright scams that we have uncovered currently stands at 60 - and is still growing. For example where is the sign in the above photograph?
If AppealNow.com can help motorists appeal and overturn parking tickets issued by any of these or other methods, our job will be worthwhile.
60 Ways that parking tickets have been illegally issued
1. The ghost or phantom parking ticket - parking attendants illegally issuing tickets after a vehicle has driven away and claim it was put on the vehicle. This is still the most common scam.
2. BT vans targeted by parking attendants in the using the DOUBLE WHAMMY scam (see below on how the scam works). BT has now set up a special team to deal with these scams! Well done BT.
3. Giving tickets to vehicles legally loading and unloading or delivering.
4. Clampers parking on yellow lines while they do personal shopping
5. Supervisors and managers and traffic wardens cancel tickets for their friends and councillors.
6. Traffic wardens do not report parking meters that are not recording the time correctly. They then issue parking tickets to vehicles parking there.
7. New parking signs with new times are hidden behind the old signs.
8. Signs with no lettering on are not replaced or repaired.
9. Parking signs are hidden behind obstructions including hedges.
10. Councils do not follow the appeals procedure and automatically send out letters turning down an appeal.
11. Attendants know which parking meters are to be suspended. They allow vehicles to park there, then suspend the bay and issue a parking ticket.
12. Councils lift up vehicles to paint yellow lines under them and then issue parking tickets to those cars!
13. Parking tickets issued to abandoned vehicles to reach target
14. Parking tickets issued to imaginary foreign vehicles. As the vehicles are not registered with the DVLA they are treated as valid tickets.
15. Disabled badges allegedly not displayed correctly. Disabled vehicles are illegally clamped. Parking attendants are increasingly claiming that disabled blue badges are not displayed correctly and issuing parking tickets. Councils spend hundreds of pounds fighting requests to cancel these tickets. This is now a national disgrace.
16. Health and emergency visitors get parking tickets! Parking attendants are increasingly claiming that health and emergency visitor cards are not displayed correctly and issuing parking tickets. Just think that health visitor might just save your life!!
17. Giving parking tickets to drivers assisting disabled, infirm or ill passengers into or out of a vehicle.
18. Parking wardens confirming to a driver that it's "okay to park here", the driver returns to find parking ticket issued.
19. The councils who claim they never received your appeal even when you have their receipt!!! We know who they are!
20. Issuing ticket on vehicles before time on the meter has expired.
21. Misleading information on council websites e.g. Westminster website on loading and unloading says "loading or unloading should be a continuous operation. This is not correct!
22. Councils not repainting barely visible yellow lines and therefore issuing parking tickets to motorists who cannot see the lines.
23. Issuing parking tickets when correct pay & display tickets are clearly shown.
24. Councils not replacing faulty pay and display meters or parking meters – motorists put their money in – lose it and park with a note saying they put the money in. They will get a parking ticket.
25. Issuing tickets on residents parking bays days before the bays are to be suspended.
26. Issuing parking tickets to AA and RAC patrols attending breakdowns.
27. Issuing parking tickets in areas where the council knows the parking signs are invalid.
28. Issuing tickets before 8.30 am (councils dispute this but we have witnesses)
29. Parking attendants adding information to notebooks after the event to "prove" a ticket was given correctly.
30. Claiming meters or bays are suspended and issuing parking tickets, with no evidence that the bays were suspended (see the famous case in bury where the photographic evidence was doctored).
31. Confusing signs so that it is unclear where pay & display bays situated next to residents bays start and end. (e.g. next to Belgrave police station).
32. Parking attendants refusing to make notes about an alleged parking offence in their notebooks when requested to by a motorist or member of the public.
33. When a motorist has received several parking tickets and pays some but disputes other allocating the payments as payments on account over all tickets nullifying his ability to appeal.
34. Issuing parking tickets for parking on a yellow line before the line was painted.
35. A one off – parking attendants issued a second parking ticket to a motorist who gave them the "v" sign as he drove away after he was given an initial correct ticket. The council cancelled both the first and second parking ticket!
36. Suspending and hooding parking meters or pay and displays bays over the weekend, particularly on Sundays. Motorists think it is in order to park in the bays as there is no work or other activity going on – they park and get parking tickets.
37. Where a street forms the boundary of two local authorities (particularly where they have different parking rules) parking attendants issue parking tickets in the wrong area.
38. Back office staff giving incorrect information including sometimes telling motorists to pay the fine and then appeal – once you pay the fine you cannot legally appeal.
39. 'Seeing' yellow lines in parking bays when none exist and issuing parking tickets.
40. Removing out of order signs allowing motorists to park free.
41. Providing false evidence to the parking adjudicator.
42. Putting suspension notices for residents’ parking bays on the other side of the road!
43. Some parking attendants invent 'conversations' with motorists to add 'substance' to illegally issued parking tickets.
44. Stalled vehicles given parking tickets!
45. Signs are fixed too high for motorists to read or even know that they exist!
46. Giving parking tickets to mourners at a funeral.
47. Giving parking tickets where signs obscured by hanging baskets.
48. Issuing parking tickets in another boroughs area. Yes it sounds impossible but it has happened.
49. Claiming a vehicle has returned to the same parking bay when it has not. This was caught on CCTV. The parking adjudicator gave costs against the council of more than £1,000.
50. Ticketing cars where a sign says you can legally park, and then removing the sign when challenged!
51. Dead man in car park given parking ticket.
52. Parking attendants photograph cars but miss photographing disabled badges!
53. Parking bays suspended during the night after motorists have parked - motorist then finds a parking ticket for parking in a suspended bay!
54. Parking scratchcards ignored - parking attendants claim that the cards are not scratched out correctly.
55. Council paints yellow line in residents parking bay - and issues parking ticket!
56. Parking attendants put empty parking ticket envelope on vehicle, photograpg it and pretend parking ticket is in it.
57. Councils and Transport for London register "Orders for Recovery" with the Traffic Enforcement Centre ("TEC") but do not send them out until much later. TEC work from this date and send back timely statutory declarations as being out of time.
58. Councils avoid submitting Traffic Managent Order to the Parking Adjudicator when they know the orders are invalid!
59. RSPCA officers get parking tickets whilst rescuing sick animals.
60. A council has been found moving the resedidents bay from under a car. The council deleted the residents bay lines and drew them elsewhere!!
61. Watch Out for the next one
Bookmark this page
New parking ticket scams will be listed as soon as we hear about them, so check back for the latest scams as we uncover them.
Copyright 2006 Barrie Segal
AppealNow.com™ is sometimes accused - by the parking authorities - of existing purely to help guilty motorists wriggle out of paying legal fines by using loopholes in the law.
Clamped - but where is the sign?We refute this argument. It is not our aim to help anyone to avoid paying a legally issued fine for a clear-cut offence. However, it is the aim of AppealNow.com to help motorists cut through the red tape to appeal against parking tickets and other penalties that have been issued by incorrect, illegal or underhand means.
In the course of our research, we have found a growing number of examples of parking attendants 'stretching' or breaking the legal regulations so that their parking ticket quotas can be met.
The list of 'tricks' and outright scams that we have uncovered currently stands at 60 - and is still growing. For example where is the sign in the above photograph?
If AppealNow.com can help motorists appeal and overturn parking tickets issued by any of these or other methods, our job will be worthwhile.
60 Ways that parking tickets have been illegally issued
1. The ghost or phantom parking ticket - parking attendants illegally issuing tickets after a vehicle has driven away and claim it was put on the vehicle. This is still the most common scam.
2. BT vans targeted by parking attendants in the using the DOUBLE WHAMMY scam (see below on how the scam works). BT has now set up a special team to deal with these scams! Well done BT.
3. Giving tickets to vehicles legally loading and unloading or delivering.
4. Clampers parking on yellow lines while they do personal shopping
5. Supervisors and managers and traffic wardens cancel tickets for their friends and councillors.
6. Traffic wardens do not report parking meters that are not recording the time correctly. They then issue parking tickets to vehicles parking there.
7. New parking signs with new times are hidden behind the old signs.
8. Signs with no lettering on are not replaced or repaired.
9. Parking signs are hidden behind obstructions including hedges.
10. Councils do not follow the appeals procedure and automatically send out letters turning down an appeal.
11. Attendants know which parking meters are to be suspended. They allow vehicles to park there, then suspend the bay and issue a parking ticket.
12. Councils lift up vehicles to paint yellow lines under them and then issue parking tickets to those cars!
13. Parking tickets issued to abandoned vehicles to reach target
14. Parking tickets issued to imaginary foreign vehicles. As the vehicles are not registered with the DVLA they are treated as valid tickets.
15. Disabled badges allegedly not displayed correctly. Disabled vehicles are illegally clamped. Parking attendants are increasingly claiming that disabled blue badges are not displayed correctly and issuing parking tickets. Councils spend hundreds of pounds fighting requests to cancel these tickets. This is now a national disgrace.
16. Health and emergency visitors get parking tickets! Parking attendants are increasingly claiming that health and emergency visitor cards are not displayed correctly and issuing parking tickets. Just think that health visitor might just save your life!!
17. Giving parking tickets to drivers assisting disabled, infirm or ill passengers into or out of a vehicle.
18. Parking wardens confirming to a driver that it's "okay to park here", the driver returns to find parking ticket issued.
19. The councils who claim they never received your appeal even when you have their receipt!!! We know who they are!
20. Issuing ticket on vehicles before time on the meter has expired.
21. Misleading information on council websites e.g. Westminster website on loading and unloading says "loading or unloading should be a continuous operation. This is not correct!
22. Councils not repainting barely visible yellow lines and therefore issuing parking tickets to motorists who cannot see the lines.
23. Issuing parking tickets when correct pay & display tickets are clearly shown.
24. Councils not replacing faulty pay and display meters or parking meters – motorists put their money in – lose it and park with a note saying they put the money in. They will get a parking ticket.
25. Issuing tickets on residents parking bays days before the bays are to be suspended.
26. Issuing parking tickets to AA and RAC patrols attending breakdowns.
27. Issuing parking tickets in areas where the council knows the parking signs are invalid.
28. Issuing tickets before 8.30 am (councils dispute this but we have witnesses)
29. Parking attendants adding information to notebooks after the event to "prove" a ticket was given correctly.
30. Claiming meters or bays are suspended and issuing parking tickets, with no evidence that the bays were suspended (see the famous case in bury where the photographic evidence was doctored).
31. Confusing signs so that it is unclear where pay & display bays situated next to residents bays start and end. (e.g. next to Belgrave police station).
32. Parking attendants refusing to make notes about an alleged parking offence in their notebooks when requested to by a motorist or member of the public.
33. When a motorist has received several parking tickets and pays some but disputes other allocating the payments as payments on account over all tickets nullifying his ability to appeal.
34. Issuing parking tickets for parking on a yellow line before the line was painted.
35. A one off – parking attendants issued a second parking ticket to a motorist who gave them the "v" sign as he drove away after he was given an initial correct ticket. The council cancelled both the first and second parking ticket!
36. Suspending and hooding parking meters or pay and displays bays over the weekend, particularly on Sundays. Motorists think it is in order to park in the bays as there is no work or other activity going on – they park and get parking tickets.
37. Where a street forms the boundary of two local authorities (particularly where they have different parking rules) parking attendants issue parking tickets in the wrong area.
38. Back office staff giving incorrect information including sometimes telling motorists to pay the fine and then appeal – once you pay the fine you cannot legally appeal.
39. 'Seeing' yellow lines in parking bays when none exist and issuing parking tickets.
40. Removing out of order signs allowing motorists to park free.
41. Providing false evidence to the parking adjudicator.
42. Putting suspension notices for residents’ parking bays on the other side of the road!
43. Some parking attendants invent 'conversations' with motorists to add 'substance' to illegally issued parking tickets.
44. Stalled vehicles given parking tickets!
45. Signs are fixed too high for motorists to read or even know that they exist!
46. Giving parking tickets to mourners at a funeral.
47. Giving parking tickets where signs obscured by hanging baskets.
48. Issuing parking tickets in another boroughs area. Yes it sounds impossible but it has happened.
49. Claiming a vehicle has returned to the same parking bay when it has not. This was caught on CCTV. The parking adjudicator gave costs against the council of more than £1,000.
50. Ticketing cars where a sign says you can legally park, and then removing the sign when challenged!
51. Dead man in car park given parking ticket.
52. Parking attendants photograph cars but miss photographing disabled badges!
53. Parking bays suspended during the night after motorists have parked - motorist then finds a parking ticket for parking in a suspended bay!
54. Parking scratchcards ignored - parking attendants claim that the cards are not scratched out correctly.
55. Council paints yellow line in residents parking bay - and issues parking ticket!
56. Parking attendants put empty parking ticket envelope on vehicle, photograpg it and pretend parking ticket is in it.
57. Councils and Transport for London register "Orders for Recovery" with the Traffic Enforcement Centre ("TEC") but do not send them out until much later. TEC work from this date and send back timely statutory declarations as being out of time.
58. Councils avoid submitting Traffic Managent Order to the Parking Adjudicator when they know the orders are invalid!
59. RSPCA officers get parking tickets whilst rescuing sick animals.
60. A council has been found moving the resedidents bay from under a car. The council deleted the residents bay lines and drew them elsewhere!!
61. Watch Out for the next one
Bookmark this page
New parking ticket scams will be listed as soon as we hear about them, so check back for the latest scams as we uncover them.
Copyright 2006 Barrie Segal
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