At £71.80 the loaf I bought yesterday must stand a good chance of getting into the Guinness Book of Records.
Then again they might argue that the bread only cost £1.80 and that the parking fine can't be counted towards it. But that really depends on whose purse is paying.
I was driving home late yesterday afternoon and, knowing that husband had to have bread for his breakfast next day - otherwise I never hear the end of it - I stopped on a single yellow line outside a small Tesco and rushed in.
I was just paying when a woman came over and said to me, 'Is that your mini outside only a traffic warden is booking you.'
I grabbed my shopping and ran. When I got outside the warden handed me the ticket. 'Oh,' I groaned. 'I thought single lines meant I could stop briefly.'
'Not between four and six,' he said. 'See those yellow marks on the pavement edges? That means there are extra restrictions and you have to read the sign along there to see what they are.'
Oh,' I groaned again.
'Appeal,' he said. 'Say the restrictions weren't clearly signposted. You thought you could stop. I'll write it in my notes.'
'Should I?' I said.
'Yes,' he said.
Should I? Strictly speaking I feel I should pay. What do you think?
8 comments:
You should definitely challenge it. If you didn't see the yellow marks or didn't know what they meant, then I reckon it's not your fault and there should be more explicit signs giving the parking regulations. I for one had no idea that yellow curb marks meant extra restrictions. If the man agrees the restrictions weren't clearly signposted, go for it!
Well, you DID think you could stop and you DIDN'T see the signpost so how clearly could it have been posted?
Definitely challenge!
Challenge. The ticket writer suggested it and tell them that you did not notice the sign.
I expect they'd be astonished if you did pay. They'll have to signpost it better. It might be a good idea, though, not to do it again!
Liz:
I would suggest you challenge it... mostly because the police officer / traffic officer suggested to do so. The explanation offered was one that is logical and would allow you also a free conscious because it sounds like it was a new, special time alteration of the rules that you were sincerely trying to follow. To me, you could challenge it and view the potential granting of a dismissal of the traffic ticket as a sort of “do over” because now that you know of the restriction you will adhere to it in the future.
PipeTobacco
Okay, I've challenged it! Will let you know the result. And I definitely won't risk it again. And I will check signs more carefully in future.
I am surprised you even considered paying it. I will pay $30 or $40 parking tickets. How much is it worth to avoid the pain of having to deal with the bureaucracy? 70 pounds sounds like a bit much. I suppose it also might depend on how often you get parking tickets. If you only get one once every ten years, it might be something you can tolerate. If you get them more than once a year, I think I'd fight it.
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