Taxi Driver Online

Plymouth taxi driver hits out at council "double standards" over parking ticket



Taxi driver Mark Dawn with the parking ticket he received on his broken down vehicle outside the Belmont Garage

A FURIOUS taxi driver who had a parking ticket slapped on his broken down cab has hit out at council chiefs.

On hearing of the authority's own camera car parking controversy (see story above), Mark Dawn said: "It's one rule for the council and another for the rest of us."

Mr Dawn had a ticket slapped on his car last week when it was parked on double yellow lines outside a garage with a note on the window explaining the problem.

But Mr Dawn was stunned at being hit with the penalty notice despite his predicament.

The cabbie dropped the car off outside Belmont Garage after the fan belt gave-in during a nightshift.

The ticket was issued at 5.57am.

Mr Dawn was outraged when he found out the council's car was not penalised in almost the exact same circumstances.

He explained: "I parked it up right outside the garage on double yellow lines in the middle of the night. It's a dead end and I made sure it wasn't causing an obstruction in case any emergency vehicles needed past.

"I left a note explaining that the fan belt had gone and the garage would move it as soon as they opened.

"What else was I supposed to do? Why should I pay up and not the council?"

Mr Dawn says he is now refusing to pay the £70 penalty.

He continued: "I had to get my car to a garage there and then.

"What harm was it doing at 5.57am?

"They can take me to court. Even if I have to pay for the services of a lawyer. It's a matter of principle."

And he says he's not the only one to be targeted outside the Belmont Street garage.

"I've heard of about eight others who have been hit in the last couple of months. We're all self-employed working hard to make a living.

"And this could have an effect on the garage too. People could go elsewhere if they think they are going to get a ticket for leaving their car there.

"I know one guy who got a ticket when his wheel was hanging off.

"It seems it's one rule for the council and one for everyone else.

"It's easy money for the council. But they should apply some common sense."

The Herald had not received a response from the council at the time of going to print.


Read more: http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/Plymouth-t ... z2jqh0zHkn

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

None whatsoever.

Typical of so many council, thick officials simply on a crusade to attack motorists at any occasion, even that early.

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IDFIMH

I received a ticket in Brighton once when my car was broken down. I sent the council a copy of the form from the recovery people and the ticket was withdrawn. I would like to think that a letter from the garage explaing the circumstances should receive a similar result.

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Grandad,

Maybe they get a few chancers?

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