Claims made that Ealing parking tickets are illegal

Campaigner says ticket format breaches regulations

A leading campaigner on parking issues is claiming that tickets issued by Ealing Council are illegal. Barrie Segal, who runs the AppealNow.com web site, claims that because the date of issue of the ticket must be shown on the parking ticket they are in breach of the requirement of the Road Traffic Act 1991.

He said, "I have examined the Parking tickets ("PCNs") issued by several local authorities and believe them to be issued illegally. This is because parking tickets information shown must comply with a strict legal requirement. Under the Road Traffic Act 1991 the date of issue, amongst other things, must be shown on the parking ticket as confirmed by the parking adjudicator in the National Parking Adjudication Service decided case BC 188, Mr Roger L. Macarthur and Bury Metropolitan Borough Council."

A council spokesman dispute that Mr. Segal has contacted them and said, "Ealing Council wishes to clarify that the date of issue is put on all PCNs in the borough. A PCN is issued with a date on both the main ticket and on the tear-off section. Last year, we showed our PCN's to the parking adjudication service to ensure our tickets conformed to its requirements.

Westminster City Council, Camden, Lambeth, Tower Hamlets and Barnet have a similar format for tickets and would also be affected. Mr. Segal has advised the Chief Parking Adjudicator in London of his views.

Recently it was revealed that a large number of appeals against parking tickets are not being contested by the Council. Last year Ealing Council let almost 600 appeals go to court only to offer no evidence on the day of the hearing.

December 21, 2005