Complete and Utter Zebu

There’s a glorious piece in today’s Sheffield Star about some of the reasons motorists have given to try to get out of parking tickets in the city, according to Sheffield Council. The most gobsmacking is surely the excuse: “My son was dying in my arms.” How could the council be so heartless as to turn down that appeal? No problem, once they found out that his son was actually being taken to have his hearing tested.

Among the others:

• “I was spying on my boyfriend who I suspected was having an affair with my best friend. I left my vehicle to creep into the house to catch them at it.”
• “I am a pensioner and was modelling nude in a life art class. I was unable to return to my vehicle before the pay and display ticket ran out.”
• “I’ve only just passed my test. I didn’t know I couldn’t park there.”
• “I had no choice but to park illegally. Everywhere else was full.”
• “I only parked there because other cars were parked there.”
• “I am afraid I had a rather embarrassing accident on Corporation Street and I walked to T J Hughes to buy some more pants.”

The only example of those given that was actually upheld was: “I could not buy a pay and display ticket because a vicious-looking dog was tied to the machine.” Apparently the wardens noticed the beast and so the fine was withdrawn.

Sheffield Council cabinet member for transport (sic!) Councillor Ian Auckland said: “We will always consider letters of appeal carefully on the evidence given…the thing that is key to the appeals process is the need for common sense.”

Here, it is the motorists who are largely at fault. But did you know that it is illegal for councils to issue parking tickets in order to raise revenue? It’s something we cover in Complete and Utter Zebu as it’s easy to believe some of them have forgotten that.

In 2007, for instance, a new “fairer deal” was introduced in London with a two-tier system of fines, split into serious and not-so-serious offences. Surprise, surprise. By June 2009, councils had issued three times as many fines at the higher rather than lower level, taking an extra £40m out of motorists’ pockets than the old system would have done.

If you think or know you have been issued with an an erroneous parking ticket, we recommend going to a great campaigning website, appealnow.com.