Single Yellow Line Parking

[Spinal]

So, today I drove to Camden town... question; can I park on a single yellow line on Sundays?

The reason I ask is I got a parking ticket for:
"parked in a restricted street during prescribed hours"

There was a pay&display bay 10/20meters down the road from my car, but I was parked on a single yellow line. I took some pics with a single-use camera to make sure I had some evidence...

Whos right? Me or Camden borough? I though I could park on a single yellow on a Sunday, but I may be wrong.

Michele

 

[BTB 500]

AFAIK single yellow lines are always qualified by signs saying when the restriction is active. "8AM-6PM" (for example) would mean every day, if Sundays were exempted it would say "8AM-6PM Mon-Sat" (or something along those lines).

My understanding, anyway.

 

[Spinal]

Just did some reading - apparently there was meant to be a sign stating the hours the "no parking" applied - but the only sign I found was the pay-and-display bay's sign... (have pics of that too).

Whats the law when there are no signs displayed?

Michele

 

[crockers]

You may find that the whole area has set parking restictions - if that is the case all roads leading to the area will have them on a plate as you enter the zone - for example I once got a ticket in Pinner because of this - when i appealed because there was no plate on the road - that was their retort....

 

[Stratman]

Single yellow lines indicate that restrictions apply "during the working day" whereas double yellows indicate that they apply for "greater than the working day". The lines themselves show where the restrictions apply but the exact hours of operation are shown on plates either at the entrance to a zone or 'nearby'.

 

[gurpz]

In my opinion Spinal if you think you are right and that you have enough evidence to proove that then you should most definatly apeal for it

 

[robert.saunders]

Let me give you some facts (sad, I know, that I know these...):

Double yellow lines

NO WAITING AT ANY TIME

Unless a time plate indicates otherwise - eg they could be seasonal, say during summer (normally Easter to end October, common in seaside resorts) - generally though, 24/7

Single Yellow lines

NO WAITING AT TIMES INDICATED

By the yellow line will be a time plate stating when the yellow line is in operation. It is a complete misnomer to think that single yellows are free to park on during a Sunday, or Bank Holiday - the only way to know is read the sign, as every Local Authority will have them different. Some areas, as stated above, will be covered by a CPZ and you must read the signs at the entrance to the CPZ that states when restrictions are in force.

(trust me, I'm a parking manager )

If no signage is present, then you have case to appeal.

HTH

Rob

 

[masqueraid]

Single yellow lines indicate that restrictions apply "during the working day" whereas double yellows indicate that they apply for "greater than the working day". The lines themselves show where the restrictions apply but the exact hours of operation are shown on plates either at the entrance to a zone or 'nearby'.

Don't get too reliant on "during the working day". Single yellows mean there's a restriction on parking and it is the driver's responsibility to check what this is. If you park there and you haven't checked you are at fault if you park within the restricted time. Single yellows often refer to weekend restrictions too particularly if there are regular events that would mean parking was an additional hazard like markets (probably in Camden's case it may be something like this)

Edit: err ... what Rob said ^^^

 

[robert.saunders]

Here is Camden's stance:

http://www.camden.gov.uk/ccm/conten...g/where-to-park/parking-regulations.en?page=3

Likely in this case Spinal you were parked within a CPZ unless local (street specific) signage dictated otherwise, but you'll have to check that.

Rob

 

[robert.saunders]

Don't get too reliant on "during the working day". Single yellows mean there's a restriction on parking and it is the driver's responsibility to check what this is. If you park there and you haven't checked you are at fault if you park within the restricted time. Single yellows often refer to weekend restrictions too particularly if there are regular events that would mean parking was an additional hazard like markets (probably in Camden's case it may be something like this)

Edit: err ... what Rob said ^^^

Hehe thanks

 

[Sp!ke]

Interesting thread as I suspect I might get caught out by this as well at some point.

The streets around my mothers house are all residents parking with the odd single yellow and a couple of meter bays in neighbouring streets.

Neither the single yellows or the residents bays indicate the days and times the restrictions are in force.

Since I park there quite regularly and not wanting to get collared for a parking ticket, I recently made a point of going for a walk looking for any signs displaying the details of the restrictions. I wandered around in ever increasing circles looking for them and I couldn't find anything relating to the single yellows or the residents bays. The only thing that did have times posted were the meters some two streets away.

Surely it is the duty of the local authority should provide adequate signage in this respect? If so, what is considered adequate or reasonable? I suspect that I'd have a good case to fight any ticket at any time of day on any day of the week given the circumstances but frankly could do without the hassle.

 

[recycled]

So is it an open and shut case then?

 

[robert.saunders]

Hi Sp!ke would the area you mention be a Controlled Parking Zone? These generally don't have specific signage relating to the individual streets etc (but should have specific bay use signage - as I go onto below).

Generally, a controlled parking zone (CPZ) is an area where there are restricted parking places. The hours when restricted parking applies are shown on signs as you enter the zone. Handily (not) all CPZ have their own controlled hours, so you have to check all signage as you enter the CPZ.

Any yellow(s) within the CPZ are generally restricted as the entrance CPZ signage states, or otherwise (by specific adjacent signs to the yellow(s)).

Bays marked as Residents use within the CPZ should have specific signage indicating use of the bay (ie is it pay & display or resident/loading/doctor bay and so on) - without this, it seems a trifle odd. What area is this Sp!ke, or the council?

 

[Sp!ke]

Its Richmond, The bays do have displays saying they are residents bays etc however they don't say the hours of enforcement.

I've lived in Richmond all my life and if this are is in a CPZ then I've never once seen the signs which goes to show how prominent they are. This would seem a trifle unreasonable should it be the case. In fact the cynics amongst us could be forgiven for thinking the signage (or lack of) was a deliberate act in order to generate more revenue.

A few years ago, Richmond council made less revenue out of parking than they expected and hence there was a shortfall in funds. Instead of congratulating the public on parking so considerately, they announced they were to paint more yellow lines and increase the restrictions so as to guarantee hitting their targets next year. (thats just wrong on so many levels) Perhaps this is another stealth revenue generation tactic on there behalf?

 

[robert.saunders]

I certainly have no comment to make upon Richmond and how they operate (but I do know their parking team, and they're amongst the highest of regard in the country for operational enforcement and back-office processing).

The hours of operation should be displayed on the CPZ signage, which should be in accordance with signs placed on all vehicular entry points to the area.

A CPZ sign looks like this:

http://www.kingston.gov.uk/controlledzone.jpg

The CPZ could be quite a vast area so the signage could be some way away - repeaters aren't generally used. Specific information can be found here (biggish download) http://www.richmond.gov.uk/doc-parking_zone_all.pdf.

Money making/targets? Nah, not going there

I keep my info factual and impartial

Rob

 

[robert.saunders]

So is it an open and shut case then?

For Spinal? Depends on the CPZ - if the specific CPZ for the street where parked is operational on a Sunday, then not a lot can be done. If it isn't then an obvious line for appeal I would say

 

[Sp!ke]

Thank you Robert thats cleared that up. It is in CPZ A2.

Heres my question for you then. Is it acceptable for the signage to be so discreet that in over 30 years of going in and out of the zone from all directions I've never spotted it?

On private land, there has to be clear and prominent displays in order to legally enforce any penalty system. Surely this should also be the case for local government?

I very much doubt Spinal would have parked where he was today if there had been clear signs stating it wasn't legal to do so. By not posting clear signs aren't the council guilty of entrapment?

If I were in Spinals shoes, I'd fight it on those grounds and if he/I were to be found guilty then the law once again would be in the wrong in my opinion.

Its all one big game IMO, its no longer about ticketing dangerous or inconsiderately parked vehicles... its all about revenue. The fact that whilst playing this game, the opposition choose to play using underhanded tactics in order to hit their targets rules out any legitimacy that they may once have held in my view.

 

[BTB 500]

On private land, there has to be clear and prominent displays in order to legally enforce any penalty system. Surely this should also be the case for local government?

I very much doubt Spinal would have parked where he was today if there had been clear signs stating it wasn't legal to do so. By not posting clear signs aren't the council guilty of entrapment?

But yellow lines painted on the road clearly signify that parking is retricted, as per the Highway Code the onus is on the driver to check when parking is allowed

Red and single yellow lines CAN ONLY GIVE A GUIDE TO THE RESTRICTIONS AND CONTROLS IN FORCE AND SIGNS, NEARBY OR AT A ZONE ENTRY, MUST BE CONSULTED.

(the capitals are in the original text - not my emphasis)

 

[Sp!ke]

I understand the what you are saying and agree the onus is on the driver to check when the restrictions apply. Whilst at the same time it is also the local authorities responsibility to display such restrictions in a clear manner or they will be gaining revenue under false pretences?

What if you cannot find a sign that displays the restrictions and therefore cannot be sure? As I said earlier, I went on a 30 minute hunt for any such sign and found nothing. What then?

Should one then pay to park even though you potentially don't have to? I see people regularly on this stretch of road paying to park out of confusion, myself included. Yet the local authority do nothing to right this wrong as they benefit all round from the confused state of affairs.

Would this be considered ethical let alone reasonable in law to have the restrictions posted in such a manner that they could not be read?

I don't mean to rant and I'm not having a go at anyone in particular but I think this whole parking 'game' has become an absolute nightmare for the motorist.

Bring back angle grinder man I say!

 

[Spinal]

Wow, this thread has grown fast!

I couldn't find ANY signage beyond that of the pay-and-display bays; not only, the three other people in my car couldn't find any either (one being my Italian cousin, who even looked when I parked there - especially when I confidently said "you can park on single yellow lines on sundays and after 6:30..." she didn't believe me so she had already looked when we arrived)

That said, Camden is one large controlled zone - so I'm pretty sure that if I were to contest it I would be told that there is a sign two roads down saying I'm entering a controlled zone.

In addition to which, I'm leaving Friday to go on holiday - all in all, I feel quite "annoyed" (to be diplomatic) and don't think its very fair - but its less hassle to pay the £50 than to contest it.

Live and learn...

Thanks for the replies,
Michele

P.S. I will include a letter with my cheque stating how unfair I feel that stretch of road is, and that under slightly different circumstances I would have contested it...