You don’t have to pay some parking ‘fines’

Your article on earning £10 for photographing illegally parked cars (Issue 496, page 9) brought back memories of when a relative received one of these ‘fines’. They look very official, but often have little or no weight in law. Only authorised personnel may issue fines, such as traffic wardens and police officers.

Often car parks have signs indicating that if a vehicle is left over a certain period of time a fine will be issued. If it’s not paid the issuing company, after threatening an increase, is left with the alternative of pursuing recovery through the county court. You should stand your ground if you receive a ticket because less than five per cent of cases go to court.

The maximum award by the Court is the revenue lost to the landowner. As most private owners of car parks don’t charge, the lost revenue amounts to nothing. If you get hit with a ticket for parking on private land (whether or not signs are displayed), it’s simply a charge the company is trying to make you pay. Ian Longley