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NCP parking fine

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marymarymary | 00:08 Sun 05th Apr 2009 | Motoring
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i parked in an asda car park today and returned late to the car. The ticket had run out and there were two NCP atttendants starting to put the car details into their machine. I drove away before they could issue a ticket. Does this make any difference? Can they post it out as they said they would? This is a hire care and I really don't want to get charged by hire company for admin costs on top of the ticket aswell. Any advice greatfully received.
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Hi Mary,

The law always stated that the fully completed ticket had to be stuck to your windscreen in a clear bag for it to be valid. Unless the rules have changed then you should be OK.

I know the traffic wardens used to say "I've started filling it out now" as I got caught on that one. I just waited like a dummy for them to fill it out and hand it to me! Only then I believe was the ticket valid.

There was another scam the traffic wardens were pulling to make up their 10 ticket target for the day. This was revealed by an undercover reporter from The Sun and it was on TV about 3 years ago. The traffic warden makes a note of the number plate, model and colour of any car passing through their area. They then write a ticket saying it was parked in a particular street at that time. They then take the top copy home and destroy it and the first the car owner knows is when he or she receives a doubled fine for non-payment of the original. It's no good the driver saying they never parked there or got a ticket as the court always assume they are lying and screwed up the original.

The undercover reporter was taught to do that by his mentor who said the courts always believe the traffic warden. Hopefully, the characters you met won't do the same.
The law changed on 31st March 2008.
"PCN parking tickets can now be issued by post if the motorist drives away after the CEO has started to issue it"
http://www.which.co.uk/advice/how-to-appeal-a- parking-ticket/parking-ticket-faqs/index.jsp

Traffic warden and police issued fixed penalty notices have always been capable of being with by summons if the driver drove off before the ticket could be written out. That was not the case with council issued notices and many parking tickets are now issued by post after being detected by cameras.
"If you return to find a police officer or traffic warden in the process of issuing a ticket then, if you drive off, the ticket can be sent to you as they enforce under different legislation. "
http://www.roadtrafficlaw.com/ParkingFAQs(1).h tm
NCP car parking is different again. This is neither the council nor the police/traffic warden but is a private organisation.
They can send you a fine by post but if you refuse to pay they could chase it under the County Court using the Small Claims' Procedure, in which case you will pay costs too.
Traditionally people have been advised that this is too much hassle for the parking companies and they don't bother, but last year a large company went to court and won. This is encouraging other companies to do the same. It is your gamble.
Be aware also that some councils sub-contact their parking control to NCP. So, it is important to determine who has control of the parking, the council or a PPC (private parking contractor).

The first thing you should do is get in touch with the hire car company and tell them that whether its a council parking fine or a PPC 'invoice' that you will be contesting it and that on no account should they pay it on your behalf.

If its a council parking fine the paperwork when it arrives will refer to a 'Penalty Charge Notice' and a 'Notice to Owner'. If its from a PPC it will refer to something like a 'Parking Charge Notice'. The similarity is intentional. If the latter then it should be ignored. Refer to the many similar cases on pepipoo.com for help, advise and encoragement to continue ignoring this scam.
northstar - it was pepipoo that was slated by the judge in the case last year for encouraging a motorist not to pay the 'Parking Charge Notice' and awarded in the parking company's favour after the motorist appealed at the first hearing. It cost him several thousand pounds at the end of it.
barry - details?, judge , court, case number?
Each case turns on its merits. Post case discussion from pepipoo here

http://forums.pepipoo.com/lofiversion/index.ph p/t34095.html

The last comment would appear apposite.

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