5 Step Guide by NoParkingFine Ltd

1. Don’t despair - According to the latest official statistics 67% of parking fines are likely to be legally invalid. You have a good chance of saving your money.

2. Don’t pay immediately - You will have 7-21 days to pay at the ‘reduced’ amount. Bide your time well for the below steps.

3. Photograph - *Crucial* Pull out your camera phone and take photographs.
 

  • Take a close-up photograph of where you parked. You must include road markings clearly.
  • Take a close-up photograph of the nearest sign. All words must be readable.
  • Stand back and take a few distance photographs (these must show the position of the sign from where you were parked and both ends of the road markings)

d. If you were parked within a ‘zone’ (eg pedestrian zone) take a close-up and distance photograph of the signs at the entrance of the road.

4. Legally invalid? Choose one of two methods of working out whether your parking fine is legally invalid.
 

  • Obtain free bespoke advice from NoParkingFine Ltd by sending a copy of your parking fine and photographs to them, via www.noparkingfine.co.uk. (The Citizens Advice Bureau may also provide you with generic advice); OR
  • Conduct your own research into the traffic laws. The road markings, signage, wording on the parking fine and factual circumstances must strictly comply with these otherwise your parking fine is legally invalid. Examples of what might render a parking ticket legally invalid include, unmaintained road markings, wrong ticket information, pre-dated signs etc.

The main laws laws that you need to look at are: Traffics Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002, The Civil Enforcement of Parking Contraventions (England) Representations and Appeals Regulations 2007, The Road Traffic Act 1991, Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, The Civil Enforcement of Parking Contraventions (Guidelines on Levels of Charges) (England) Order 2007, Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations (1999), Additionally and Under the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977. Copies of these are available at www.legislation.gov.uk or visit www.noparkingfine.co.uk for direct links.


5. Appeal or pay
 

  • If you (or legal experts) conclude that your parking fine is legally invalid then send a comprehensive appeal letter immediately (or at least within the ‘discount’ period) to the issuer. You may write this yourself or ask NoParkingFine Ltd to write this for you. Remember, the clock on the ‘discount-period’ is paused until a response has been sent to you. If you are successful, go and treat yourself with your new savings!
  • If unfortunately, you, legal experts or the fines issuers conclude that your parking fine was issued correctly then you’re probably best off paying at the reduced amount immediately (which you should still have time to do) and forgetting about it. At least you will have peace of mind that the ticket was not given unfairly.