A new stealth tax is born

[robert.saunders]

Even I can't keep up sometimes, but that's another story

 

[MBManInKen]

Even I can't keep up sometimes, but that's another story

These days, you can get pills for that .

 

[Colin_b]

Even I can't keep up sometimes, but that's another story

I suddenly have this picture of Sid James and Hattie Jacques. I don't know why.....

 

[scumbag]

I suddenly have this picture of Sid James and Hattie Jacques. I don't know why.....

they have nothing to do with parking tickets, car insurance or any of that carry on!

 

[Dave Lewis]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=551108&in_page_id=1770

Do you work for the Daily Mail, DaveK ?

You'd love it in Holland - they hide 'em in recycling bins.....

 

[Silestanix]

To be honest, we like most other authorities outside London, will see revenue decrease due to the 2-tier penalty level.

So, no, the E63 is on hold at the moment, although I may upgrade to a new Mondeo

**Has heart attack**

Wait...I'm driving a B**...

My bad...

 

[st4]

Have you bought a brown shirt yet?

I think that comment is out of place and out of order. You sated your views on bullying earlier, this is what I would say is "ganging up" on someone.

 

[MBManInKen]

I think that comment is out of place and out of order

Well, it's still a free country so you're entitled to your opinion.

 

[recycled]

Do you work for the Daily Mail, DaveK ?

You'd love it in Holland - they hide 'em in recycling bins.....

yep in groningen and utrecht like these
http://www.snopes.com/photos/automobiles/radar.asp

 

[Dave Lewis]

My mate Rudi in Holland has a SLK and a stack of 50 euro fixed penalties on his kitchen table. No points in Holland for speeding, so he chooses to pay up if he wants to drive like a loony (which is most of the time).

 

[recycled]

same as my sister in den haag. she just pays up and goes on.

 

[MBManInKen]

same as my sister in den haag. she just pays up and goes on.

That's how it worked in Belgium until a few years ago. Then they introduced very high fines and strong enforcement and speeding offences have been dropping considerably since.

Do 20kph over the limit in a built-up area and you're in for a hefty court fine (at least 550 for the first time, no fixed penalty possible, cannot avoid going to court) and your licence will always and automatically be suspended.

Even at only 10kph above the limit in a built-up area (or a 30kph zone, or near a school etc) and you're in for 175 euro to be paid on the spot (or 275 to 2750 euro if you go to court) and your licence could be suspended as well (and will be if you're a repeat offender).

 

[GrahamC230K]

I think we should try and stay a little more on topic (I see more recent posts are so fair enough).

I think posts will have to start being pruned otherwise, which would be a shame to have to do and a nuisance to do.

 

[recycled]

I think this will be easier to fight because up here, outside the city centre the road markings/ yellow lines are never taken care off. And when a utility diggs up the road, they sometimes do not paint the lines back on so there is a stretch of road you can park legally on.
Dont forget the lines have to be continuous and unbroken otherwise they will be illegal so if you park out of town and some CCTV catches you in front of your chippy, just follow the lines and anywhere some paint has peeled off, you are laughing.

 

[robert.saunders]

Dont forget the lines have to be continuous and unbroken otherwise they will be illegal so if you park out of town and some CCTV catches you in front of your chippy, just follow the lines and anywhere some paint has peeled off, you are laughing.

Don't rely on that advice

It's a bit of a lottery to be honest:

http://www.trafficpenaltytribunal.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=132&pageNumber=2

 

[MBManInKen]

It's a bit of a lottery to be honest

As the resident specialist , what is your opinion on the new Act - does it have what it take to create a more consistent approach across the country?

The one thing that worries me is the lack of independence in the adjudication.

 

[Colin_b]

I see in the papers today that the number of drivers (not number of tickets, aparrently) was 3.58 million in 2006/7, up from 794,851 in 2000/1 according to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal. Government figures state that English & Welsh councils made in excess of £1billion from parking, up from £140 million in 1997.

There were 9,800 parking appeals in 2006/7, of which 68% were upheld.

Thats around 10% of drivers getting a parking penalty, and the average driver contributing around £28.50 to council revenues last year.

 

[robert.saunders]

As the resident specialist

Erm...

what is your opinion on the new Act - does it have what it take to create a more consistent approach across the country?

It probably will when all LAs are enforcing using the Act. Trouble with it is that the problems from going Decrim (the Road Traffic Act 1991) are very deep and will take a long struggle to gain any form of trust. Target/revenue driven aspects are, I understand, contentious and will always be a good headline grabber - despite the best intentions of the scheme not to be revenue driven (I'm talking about civil enforcement in general, especially from 1991).


Regards the new TMA 2004, all the ingredients are in place for this to be more transparent and the motions generally are to publicise the ability to have a PCN ruled by a Tribunal - most PCNs do not reach adjudication, which really does need to be addressed. I actively encourage all PCNs to be challenged - I have said before if the enforcement isn't undertaken correctly and proper, why do it - but I am one voice on the Internet

The one thing that worries me is the lack of independence in the adjudication.

I understand that concern (as the Tribunal is funded from every PCN ever issued) but adjudication really does err on the 'side' the motorist - a cursory glance through the 'case history' is demonstrable of that, despite the bias you may think is presented. If we go to adjudication we have to be watertight in our submission of evidence - the adjudication service publishes an annual report which tables the performance of all Authority members, and the new Act also requires all LAs to publish an annual report. The idea being that more is transparent - ie types of contravention, levels of charge, the Traffic Regulation Orders, parking policy etc should all be published and in the free domain. Whether this happens correctly remains to be seen, if I'm honest.

Phew...