So recently I’ve decided to use the car to get to work. I’ve been doing a few ride outs and planning to sell the Hornet this month so thought I would stick to the car. Our parking space behind work only takes two cars and a motorbike plus it’s a really narrow alleyway behind the main road.
My boss asked if I wouldn’t mind moving his bike into the parking bay when I left work today. Got my colleague to move his bike parked in front of my car, moved my car out into the alleyway and ran back and pushed my boss’ Ducati back into the parking bay while my colleague did the same with his own 125cc. At the far end of the alleyway Garbage disposal guys were loading up, so instead of moving into the entrance I stayed were I was so not to block their exit and ran back and gave the keys back to my boss.
When I came out after about a minute they guy in the truck was taking a picture of my car, I asked him if it was to give me a fine, he said yes if I hadn’t come back to move it.
He said I wouldn’t get a fine but the way he was smiling I’m still expecting one!!
Where do I stand on this, I’m a courteous driver never had a ticket before in the 12 years I’ve lived in this country. I left the exit open for him but didn’t realise he planned on coming down my part of the alleyway, literally I was gone a minute!!
I couldn’t have reversed back into the parking bay as the two bikes were now taking up the bay I was in and my colleague had disappeared back inside.
Strange, my earlier post has not appeared. Anyway, what I said was something like -
You may get a letter warning you about obstruction threatening ASBOs and the like. Don’t ignore it. Reply stating that you would like to see their evidence that it was you who was responsible for placing the vehicle there and you consider they have written to you in error until they can show you were responsible for the actions they are complaining about.
If they respond with evidence, respond making clear your vehicle was only there for a minute whilst you made sure that other vehicles in the yard were secure etc before driving away. Also make it clear you think that the warning is heavy handed and unecessary. Copy to your MP complaining about the surveillance state. Also make clear in your reply that you were assured no action would be taken.
A similar approach should be followed if you get a ticket in a private car park, like a supermarket, as they are unenforceable as they can’t prove you agreed to the terms and condition of parking there and they are counting on contract law to enforce the penalty charge.
They have no way of making you pay a fine as a ticket wasn’t issued at the time and you weren’t causing an obstruction at that time. If you’d been a lot longer and they’d had to wait for you to move the car so they could get past then fine, but you didn’t so I wouldn’t worry about it. Plus…its the first time I’ve heard about Garbage men taking pics so that a fine can be issued at any time, never mind days later…is this standard for London now?
could also be to cover themselves why they could not collect that refuse from that section of alley etc …
Sorry guv car parked in way … and heres pic to prove it …
i have to do a fair bit of this with council tree work where no parking suspensions or last minute notification jobs ( ie can you do this this morning ) and its parked up …so i door knock and if no joy i just take a shot to prove its not that i cant b arsed …
