Parking..

[Scrumpy]

Today I parked the car..  Went to the pay and display.. Many people standing around.. Machine not working..
Phoned number displayed to pay.. Car reg.. make of car.. colour of car.. ??
Quote number of parking area..
Number not recognised..
Many people tried by using their phones.. Same problem..
No one in the car park had paid for parking..
After 3hrs we returned to the car.. Machines still not operating.. Still many people parking...
Will they get in touch with me.?  I think there were cameras around..
I will not pay any fine.. Only the cost of 3 hours parking...

[zoony]

They won't ask you to. (IMO) Fergedaboudit..

[Scrumpy]

I will be able to sleep tonight now.
I believe everything you say Zoony.. Cos u is wise.

[zoony]

How perceptive you are m'dear.. (Zoony smooths his 'tache)

[klondike]

It's that owl avatar that clinches it.... 

I've come across broken ticket machines in the past and never had any letters about not having a ticket. My favourite one had backed up with cash and although I don't recall any detail I do remember I somehow ended up with a couple of quid out of it which I hadn't put in.

[Alex]

Same happened to me, we took a photo of the machine and the time.  As it was we didnt need to as heard nothing.  Sleep well Scrumpy 

[klondike]

That's a good idea.

[Michael Rolls]

Photographic evidence is always valuable. Tenterden Council tried to fine us despite Veronica's Blue Badge clearly on display. They retracted after getting a nasty letter from me
Mike

[Scrumpy]

I didn't think to take a pic..


I don't get it.. Why would a pic of the machine prove that the machine was not working..?

[Diasi]

I didn't think to take a pic..

I don't get it.. Why would a pic of the machine prove that the machine was not working..?

It wouldn't, what it would do is introduce a reasonable element of doubt about the machine.

If it went to court it would be a civil case, which is judged on what's reasonable to believe happened, & not many people take a photo of a functioning ticket machine so the judge would take this into consideration when making a decision.

[Michael Rolls]

In my case it was the badly worded sign which enabled me to demonstrate that the council had no grounds for charging a Blue Badge
Mike

[Diasi]

In my case it was the badly worded sign which enabled me to demonstrate that the council had no grounds for charging a Blue Badge
Mike

Yes, there are numerous car parks where a Blue Badge allows you to occupy a specific parking place but not to park without paying.

[Alex]

I don't get it.. Why would a pic of the machine prove that the machine was not working..?

I don't remember what the machine said, but it was evident it wasn't working so we thought a photo might come in handy.

[Michael Rolls]

Yes, there are numerous car parks where a Blue Badge allows you to occupy a specific parking place but not to park without paying.

Don't know if it is universal but around here Blue Badges park free in council parks, but not in private ones which charge. I can't now remember the precise wording of the Kent sign, but the basis of it was that they tried to claim a Blue Badge could only park free for an hour, when the sign actually said nothing of the sort'
Mike

[Alex]

Blue Badges, another scheme open to abuse and even fraud ! 
OK the majority of holders are genuine but how many times have I seen "disabled" people park next to the supermarket door and rush in to do their shopping, while I park miles away from the door and hobble in with my " temporarily in use"  stick !