Ombudsman in
Sunderland Echo
Letters Page
Wednesday March 22, 2006
Further to my letter of March 2, I have to inform you, I finally received a reply on March 9, 2006, from Sunderland Parking Services signed by Phil Barrett, Director of Development and Regeneration Services in response to my two letters dated January 22 and February 1, 2006.
He states the legal position is that a Penalty Charge Notice without a date of issue on it which has not been quashed or appealed against within the relevant time scales remain valid and he does agree the PCN issued to me on May 4, 2005, did not show a date of issue.
What does he mean by relevant timescale? I always understood if a fine was paid by writing under protest this would be regarded as an appeal.
My information is that Sunderland Council (Parking Services) were informed on the same day May 4, 2005, by National Parking Adjudication Services that a PCN must show a date of issue on it to comply with legislation.
It is my contention therefore they carried on with this procedure against the public at large from that date and it was not until early 2006 they corrected this error. Had this department carried out their duties in an efficient and competent manner after May 4, 2005, orders should have been issued from that date or as near as possible to include the missing issue date.
Arrangements should also have been put in place to refund those fines already collected with illegal PCNs. Had they done this they would not find themselves in their present impossible position.
The latest decision by Parking Services not to chase up drivers who have not paid their fines is unbelievable. They intend to reward those who have broken the law by not paying their fines! Their inefficiency and lack of compassion leaves me with no sympathy for the predicament they now find themselves in.
I have been in touch with the Parliamentary Ombudsman who is investigating my complaint and also with Councillor Peter Wood. At this time I await to hear from both of them.
E Brittain
Sunderland
Letters Page
Wednesday March 22, 2006
Further to my letter of March 2, I have to inform you, I finally received a reply on March 9, 2006, from Sunderland Parking Services signed by Phil Barrett, Director of Development and Regeneration Services in response to my two letters dated January 22 and February 1, 2006.
He states the legal position is that a Penalty Charge Notice without a date of issue on it which has not been quashed or appealed against within the relevant time scales remain valid and he does agree the PCN issued to me on May 4, 2005, did not show a date of issue.
What does he mean by relevant timescale? I always understood if a fine was paid by writing under protest this would be regarded as an appeal.
My information is that Sunderland Council (Parking Services) were informed on the same day May 4, 2005, by National Parking Adjudication Services that a PCN must show a date of issue on it to comply with legislation.
It is my contention therefore they carried on with this procedure against the public at large from that date and it was not until early 2006 they corrected this error. Had this department carried out their duties in an efficient and competent manner after May 4, 2005, orders should have been issued from that date or as near as possible to include the missing issue date.
Arrangements should also have been put in place to refund those fines already collected with illegal PCNs. Had they done this they would not find themselves in their present impossible position.
The latest decision by Parking Services not to chase up drivers who have not paid their fines is unbelievable. They intend to reward those who have broken the law by not paying their fines! Their inefficiency and lack of compassion leaves me with no sympathy for the predicament they now find themselves in.
I have been in touch with the Parliamentary Ombudsman who is investigating my complaint and also with Councillor Peter Wood. At this time I await to hear from both of them.
E Brittain
Sunderland
posted by Neil Herron at 7:32 AM
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