The Cat Posted 4 January, 2015 Share Posted 4 January, 2015 My other half dropped us at St Mary's this morning at 1020, I took the kids to get Saints players autographs while she parked in Granville Street and walked into town. When she left the car there were no signs stating you could not park there but on her return about 1330 it had been towed away. The parking people told her the signs are flipped over to state "no parking" 4 hours before kick off, but because the car was there before that are they still enforceable? She had to pay the fine to get the car back but wants to appeal. Anyone had any similar experiences or know whether it's worth fighting this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Tender Posted 4 January, 2015 Share Posted 4 January, 2015 As a Saints fan, I'm surprised that you thought that you could get away with parking there on a matchday. The entrance to the road is closed off and stewards only allow certain cars through. If you could claim that you live a fair distance away and had no knowledge that there was a match close by, then you might get away with it, as the parking tribunal which hears appeals is somewhere up North and wouldn't have the local knowledge. But as a Saints regular, it would be easy enough to check with the club whether you as a fan should have known better, so I expect that you are on a hiding to nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cat Posted 4 January, 2015 Author Share Posted 4 January, 2015 I didn't realise she was going to park there, she dropped us off and then went into town. There was never an intent to leave the car there for the duration of the match - she wasn't going to the game and was heading home after going to the shops. Also I have seen cars parking around that area on matchdays before, although it isn't my mormal route in so this may have been last season or before that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint-scooby Posted 4 January, 2015 Share Posted 4 January, 2015 Lets all have whip round for The Cat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pap Posted 4 January, 2015 Share Posted 4 January, 2015 I didn't realise she was going to park there, she dropped us off and then went into town. There was never an intent to leave the car there for the duration of the match - she wasn't going to the game and was heading home after going to the shops. Also I have seen cars parking around that area on matchdays before, although it isn't my mormal route in so this may have been last season or before that. Never underestimate the power of a disabled badge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucks Saint Posted 4 January, 2015 Share Posted 4 January, 2015 Worth a challenge in my view. Parking conditions were not on display when she parked. The fact that some others might suspect that parking there on a match day is not possible is irrelevant. Assuming she complied with the parking conditions (if any) at the time, they are not able to enforce a (somewhat odd and arbitrary) subsequent change of conditions without her being aware. Really they need to have permanent signs there stating what happens on match days, to the extent that it differs from any other day. I am sure I have seen this at other similar venues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmel Posted 4 January, 2015 Share Posted 4 January, 2015 Just checked with someone (Geek) that should know. They cannot change the terms after you have parked unless clearly stated. You have a decent case..... as long as you can prove you parked there prior to any enhanced restrictions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cat Posted 4 January, 2015 Author Share Posted 4 January, 2015 Just checked with someone (Geek) that should know. They cannot change the terms after you have parked unless clearly stated. You have a decent case..... as long as you can prove you parked there prior to any enhanced restrictions. Thanks. The only problem is I don't see how we can prove that. When she came back to find the car missing one of the parking stewards told her it had happened before. I guess it's ultimately their word against hers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cat Posted 4 January, 2015 Author Share Posted 4 January, 2015 Worth a challenge in my view. Parking conditions were not on display when she parked. The fact that some others might suspect that parking there on a match day is not possible is irrelevant. Assuming she complied with the parking conditions (if any) at the time, they are not able to enforce a (somewhat odd and arbitrary) subsequent change of conditions without her being aware. Really they need to have permanent signs there stating what happens on match days, to the extent that it differs from any other day. I am sure I have seen this at other similar venues. The signs are flipped over ones. If you look on google street view they are apparent. The one on the corner of Granville Street is even half flipped in the pictures when none of the others are! https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.9019836,-1.3915482,3a,75y,90.58t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s5IlyLqdFbqDc-EkVmCEHPA!2e0 https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.9021286,-1.391696,3a,75y,13.85h,90.58t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s7jANV1AchOR0u2Lx2EpUeg!2e0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick Bateman Posted 4 January, 2015 Share Posted 4 January, 2015 Thanks. The only problem is I don't see how we can prove that. When she came back to find the car missing one of the parking stewards told her it had happened before. I guess it's ultimately their word against hers. When was the first shopping receipt from? If it was before the signs are flipped, then bingo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 4 January, 2015 Share Posted 4 January, 2015 (edited) Surely the burden of proof sits with the accuser rather than the accusee? IMO, take it to court and see what evidence they come up with. Edit: also check out this site for useful info and support: http://www.appealnow.com Edited 4 January, 2015 by trousers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 5 January, 2015 Share Posted 5 January, 2015 Surely the burden of proof sits with the accuser rather than the accusee? IMO, take it to court and see what evidence they come up with. Edit: also check out this site for useful info and support: http://www.appealnow.com Exactly that, got to be worth challenging, for the principle alone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Duckhunter Posted 5 January, 2015 Share Posted 5 January, 2015 http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showforum=60 These people helped me get off a speeding ticket . Just join the forum and they're very helpful . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cat Posted 5 January, 2015 Author Share Posted 5 January, 2015 Cheers for those links. I'll get on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Tender Posted 5 January, 2015 Share Posted 5 January, 2015 I have appealed a parking ticket in Southampton and won. Across the road from Debenhams in East Street there is a single yellow line with no sign giving time restrictions. I thought that on a Sunday it would be OK to park there. The Council's lawyers pointed out in their defence that it was in a restricted zone, so the signs at the beginning of the restricted zone should have been noted by me. I claimed that in most other places parking was allowed on a Sunday and that it was unreasonable for the Council to expect motorists to read those Restricted Zone signs whilst concentrating on their driving. Although that was 7/8 years ago, the Council still have no sign there, probably because they derive a significant income from fines levied against those who do not appeal, although if somebody did appeal, surely the Council ought to be reprimanded for not signing it after an appeal. There is such a sign (Restricted Zone) outside Royle Jackson Ltd, so anywhere on that Industrial Estate is outside those restrictions and the signs on the road give the parking times. I often park there on a single line on a Saturday non-match day, as the parking is free and unlimited. If you look at the Google Earth photos of the sign outside Stricklands Garage around the corner, you will see that it says that on the single yellow line, parking restrictions do not cover Saturdays or Sundays. I haven't seen what they say when the flap is lifted, whether that is to the effect that there is no parking on match days, or whether there is just a blank. If there is just a blank, then what is a motorist to deduce as their rights? I suggest that your wife appeals, that no mention be made that you were attending the match, and perhaps she could say that she had parked there previously on a Sunday without any repercussions and did not therefore see what was different that Sunday. The signs had not indicated anything different when she parked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Duckhunter Posted 6 January, 2015 Share Posted 6 January, 2015 Wes makes a good point there. Don't lie, but don't mention anything about the match . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hutch Posted 6 January, 2015 Share Posted 6 January, 2015 Probably worth making 100% sure why she was towed. Was she obstructing an entrance/exit? Too close too a junction? It's easy to jump to the conclusion that she was towed because there was a match coming up later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 6 January, 2015 Share Posted 6 January, 2015 Wes makes a good point there. Don't lie, but don't mention anything about the match . Also ensure the people dealing with the appeal don't read the SaintsWeb forum.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cat Posted 6 January, 2015 Author Share Posted 6 January, 2015 Probably worth making 100% sure why she was towed. Was she obstructing an entrance/exit? Too close too a junction? It's easy to jump to the conclusion that she was towed because there was a match coming up later. None of those. Just parked on a street where at the time other cars were parked that turned into a restricted zone. I will go and check but there are no signs that I'm aware of which state the area turns into a restricted zone on matchdays, they just flip them 4 hours before kick off. As for mentioning the match on the appeal, she won't. As an aside I'm also slightly confused about why cars can't park there. They don't provide an obstruction, and if it's to do with crowd safety then that's blown out the water by allowing cars to exit St Mary's and the surrounding paid for car parks onto the road which approaches the Itchen Bridge while thousands of people walk in the road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hutch Posted 6 January, 2015 Share Posted 6 January, 2015 Twenty-odd years ago my office was on Drayton Park back in the days when the Arse still played at Highbury. On the next corner up from the Drayton Park pub (the old Stephen's ink building for the locals). It wasn't a problem for us on Saturdays, but on midweek match days they closed the whole of Drayton Park from about 4 in the afternoon to have five cars line abreast parking all along Drayton Park. The building has an underground car park, but you couldn't get in or out after 4, so we had to park elsewhere or go home on the train. There were signs though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatch Posted 6 January, 2015 Share Posted 6 January, 2015 They have those flip over signs in my road , they always flip them over at least 24 hours beforehand though when the no parking restrictions come into force. although to add, people still park there anyway and always 100% of the time get a ticket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 6 January, 2015 Share Posted 6 January, 2015 I park at Bitterne and walk in. There are several signs that I pass and when not in use they normally say something like "next stadium event..." Which gives you some pre-warning. On one occasion I saw a couple of traffic wardens scratching their heads because it was one of this matches with a silly kick-off time and somebody had put the wrong times on the notice. The wardens admitted that there was nothing they could do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pedro Posted 6 January, 2015 Share Posted 6 January, 2015 As a matter of interest, where did it get towed to and how much was the release fee? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cat Posted 6 January, 2015 Author Share Posted 6 January, 2015 Ravenscroft in Bitterne. £35 parking fine, £105 tow fee. Happy New Year from Southampton Council. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pedro Posted 7 January, 2015 Share Posted 7 January, 2015 I had a run in about parking and contacted the police but was told they were not involved, it is all down to SCC Highways department. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cat Posted 7 January, 2015 Author Share Posted 7 January, 2015 Yes, that's what I was told too when I asked a colleague at the Police. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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