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| Man in Birmingham disabled parking bay tow stand-off | Man in Birmingham disabled parking bay tow stand-off |
| (35 minutes 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. | 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. |
| The stand-off ended at about 18:00 GMT. It was thought Mr Sanders reached an agreement with the tow company. | |
| He said the firm, which is contracted by Birmingham City Council, had agreed not to charge him a release fee. | |
| 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. | 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. | 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". | 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. | 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. | 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. |