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Man in Birmingham disabled parking bay tow stand-off | Man in Birmingham disabled parking bay tow stand-off |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A driver who wrongly parked in a disabled bay in Birmingham sat in his car for more than seven hours to stop it being towed away. | |
Matthew Sanders, 34, from Macclesfield, Cheshire, said he had spent £270 to get his car on the road and could not afford the costs if it was impounded. | Matthew Sanders, 34, from Macclesfield, Cheshire, said he had spent £270 to get his car on the road and could not afford the costs if it was impounded. |
"If they take it off me I haven't got the funds to release it," he said. | "If they take it off me I haven't got the funds to release it," he said. |
Mr Sanders got into his car after it was put on to a low-loader which meant it could not be moved. | |
The stand-off finally came to an end at about 18:00 GMT. It is understood Mr Sanders had reached an agreement with the tow company, contracted by Birmingham City Council. | |
Mr Sanders, who said he had driven to Birmingham to pick up his friend from work, said he had "no quarrel" with being given a ticket for parking in the disabled bay. | |
However, he said it was his understanding there was an eight-hour grace period before a car can be towed, which was not observed. | |
It was "clear a mistake had been made", he added, and urged other people to "research their rights". | |
Police presence | Police presence |
The council said the driver had parked "illegally" in the bay without a blue badge. It is believed he got back into the car after it had been put on to the tow truck. | |
"Disabled motorists have a right to park in designated spaces and this driver's actions have taken a much-needed space out of action for disabled visitors to the city for an entire morning and wasted the time of officers and contractors," a council spokeswoman said. | "Disabled motorists have a right to park in designated spaces and this driver's actions have taken a much-needed space out of action for disabled visitors to the city for an entire morning and wasted the time of officers and contractors," a council spokeswoman said. |
West Midlands Police said officers were there for a reassuring presence only and to prevent a breach of the peace. | West Midlands Police said officers were there for a reassuring presence only and to prevent a breach of the peace. |
The £70 Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) would cost £35 if paid within 14 days. However, Mr Sanders would also have faced a £105 vehicle removal fee and £12 daily charges. |