bramleyrhino wrote:I've received two fines which were both illegally issued. Unfortunately, the process is designed to make it so difficult to actually appeal a fine that most people will simply accept the discount offered to make the matter go away. It's only because I'm so bloody minded that I got them overturned.
One of those tickets took months and needed me to take the time to attend a hearing with the independent adjudicator, who was not at all complimentary about the conduct of the council. Not once during the process did the council apologise for wasting mine and taxpayers time. I still don't think they've addressed the issues that my appeal was allowed on and yet, they're still issuing tickets.
It's interesting how Leaguefan directs his comments at drivers who've done nothing wrong, rather than council officials failing to do something that they should know how to do - and then failing to spot for six years. Actually, it's not interesting in the slightest.
Yep that's the same with my experience. Every step along the way is designed (or appears to be) to make you just say "oh sod it" and pay the fine. It was only because I was absolutely 100% certain that I was right and they were wrong (and I was in an awkward mood) that I decided to challenge it and go through all the hassle.
In my case the road markings and signs weren't correct or the ticket was wrongly issued, I never actually received a reason as to why the ticket was issued in the first place, so as according to the markings and signs I'd parked correctly when I got back to my car and saw the ticket I took pictures with my phone to prove it. So fortunately I didn't have to go to a hearing but it still took months of correspondence with the Council amongst which were threats of legal action and debt collectors from them. Until eventually it must've reached someone with some authority and they finally gave in and accepted I was right.
If I'd been in the wrong I'd have paid it, but I wasn't as I check the road markings and signs wherever I park. As I was 100% convinced I was right, and had the pictures to back it up, I didn't see why I should pay.
A few months later the road markings were changed to what they are now on St Michael's Lane, which is presumably what they wanted it to be like back when they fined me.
As another point that's sort of relevant to this issue, City of York Council recently completely cocked up a traffic scheme in the city whereby they closed Lendal Bridge to all but buses and cycles during certain times. They put up cameras and started fining everyone who contravened those times. However they didn't put up proper signs or road markings so it was deemed illegal and they now owe everyone they fined.
So let's not pretend every single instance where fines are issued is correct or the fault of careless/arrogant drivers. Especially when fines (especially parking fines) are generally now issued by private companies with poorly paid workers on crap conditions working to targets.