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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Parking ticket appeals 'winnable' | Parking ticket appeals 'winnable' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Motorists are likely to win an appeal against unfair parking fines if they pursue the case, research has found. | Motorists are likely to win an appeal against unfair parking fines if they pursue the case, research has found. |
| Consumer rights magazine Which? found most councils did not contest repeated challenges against penalties. | Consumer rights magazine Which? found most councils did not contest repeated challenges against penalties. |
| In 2005 more than 60% of parking fine appeals in three London boroughs were won uncontested, Which? said. | In 2005 more than 60% of parking fine appeals in three London boroughs were won uncontested, Which? said. |
| Consumer rights group Appeal Now, said councils offered no evidence in 50% of cases, showing they would rather cancel tickets than continue disputes. | Consumer rights group Appeal Now, said councils offered no evidence in 50% of cases, showing they would rather cancel tickets than continue disputes. |
| Uncontested wins | Uncontested wins |
| The Which? research found in Scotland 70% of appellants won their case in 2006-2007. | The Which? research found in Scotland 70% of appellants won their case in 2006-2007. |
| Statistics from the National Parking Adjudication Service revealed about eight million parking tickets were issued in 2005 across England and Wales (excluding London). | |
| Of these 9,449 fines were challenged and 57% of them were won by motorists, and 2,749 cases were uncontested. | Of these 9,449 fines were challenged and 57% of them were won by motorists, and 2,749 cases were uncontested. |
| The survey found London boroughs of Hackney, Hillingdon and Southwark chose not to contest more than 60% of appeals. | The survey found London boroughs of Hackney, Hillingdon and Southwark chose not to contest more than 60% of appeals. |
| But Stockport Council in Cheshire did not receive a single appeal despite posting 23,000 tickets on vehicles. | But Stockport Council in Cheshire did not receive a single appeal despite posting 23,000 tickets on vehicles. |
| 'Worth challenging' | 'Worth challenging' |
| Lambeth Council told the magazine due to an IT fault it sent 8,000 bailiff warning letters to motorists who had challenged their fines. | Lambeth Council told the magazine due to an IT fault it sent 8,000 bailiff warning letters to motorists who had challenged their fines. |
| The council has since refunded 212 people who paid up. | The council has since refunded 212 people who paid up. |
| Which? editor Neil Fowler said councils readily slapped fines on motorists with "one eye on their income". | Which? editor Neil Fowler said councils readily slapped fines on motorists with "one eye on their income". |
| "Many motorists will simply give in and pay up, but if you think a parking ticket is unjustified it's well worth challenging it and, if the challenge is rejected, appealing against the decision." | "Many motorists will simply give in and pay up, but if you think a parking ticket is unjustified it's well worth challenging it and, if the challenge is rejected, appealing against the decision." |
| David Sparks, chairman of the Local Government Association's transport and regeneration board, said only a "tiny fraction" of tickets were challenged but added that genuine complaints should be pursued. | David Sparks, chairman of the Local Government Association's transport and regeneration board, said only a "tiny fraction" of tickets were challenged but added that genuine complaints should be pursued. |