People who are ‘ticketed’ over flipped parking tickets when they have paid their due fee do have a chance of being ‘let off’, says Lib Dem Communities spokesperson Councillor Lynne Thompson.
In a recent case, the National Parking Services Adjudicator looked favorably on a Southport motorist over a ‘parking ticket’ issued where the driver had shown she had purchased a ticket which had accidentally ‘flipped’ as she closed the car door. The Adjudicator passed the matter back to the Council who agreed to stop pursuing the matter and cancelled the Penalty Charge.
Councillor Lynne Thompson has found out from the Council that during the current financial year there have been 34 cases sent to the Adjudicator where the Council’s decision has been questioned over ‘flipped tickets’. Six of these have, according to the Council, been “found in favour of the appellant.”
“So,” says Councillor Thompson, “the chances of success at appeal seem to be about one in six. But do remember that the offence is of ‘not displaying a ticket’ rather than ‘not paying for one’. It can be very expensive to leave your car without checking the ticket can be clearly seen and is the right way up.”
“A few years ago, the Council had a policy of leniency with first and even second offenders on ‘flipped tickets’.” says Councillor Thompson.
“The number of visitors to the town who send in angry letter saying they will never come back to Southport when they are penalised in this fashion suggests that this might still be the best policy. But Sefton Council are holding firm with their present policy which they brought in to save money.”
A Council spokesperson says that Sefton MBC will always consider each case on its own merit and cancel those that it deems appropriate – so the Council believes there is no reason to change their current approach.
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