YouMustBeJoking Posted August 8, 2006 Author Posted August 8, 2006 Unfortunately the unthinking, uncaring application of arbitrary rules and regulations has become accepted as the norm in modern society. In this case I think that the council and it's employees have lost sight of their primary purpose, so yes, I do believe they are being imbecilic. Sticking coins to a sheet of wood is obviously ludicrous but the mental image amused me. I had hoped that the wscc could come up with other daft suggestions to make me smile. Quote
Mrs Westy Posted August 8, 2006 Posted August 8, 2006 Unfortunately the unthinking, uncaring application of arbitrary rules and regulations has become accepted as the norm in modern society. In this case I think that the council and it's employees have lost sight of their primary purpose, so yes, I do believe they are being imbecilic. What is unthinking and arbitrary about having rules which state that parking is for a maximum of 2 hours? What is unthinking and arbitrary about rules which allow someone to identify how long somebody has parked in a certain space? What is unthinking and arbitrary about a system which ensures that all parking fines are issued fairly with an appropriate appeals mechanism? What is unthinking and arbitrary about applying the known rules to everyone? What is the primary purpose? To ensure that everyone has an opportunity to park without people taking the p*** and parking there all day - thus preventing others making use of the spaces? How is this achieved? By ensuring that people display a valid symbol which identifies how long they have been parked for. Sorry, I think it's you, not the Council, which has lost the plot on this one. Quote
dangerous6 Posted August 8, 2006 Posted August 8, 2006 I write my reg number on the ticket so that if some b******d nicks it, hopefully the parking attendant will notice and issue a ticket to the people that nicked it as well. Clearly states on the ticket non-transferable That'll make me feel a whole lot better for it as well and I probably wouldn't mind paying out, just for the amusement. The local council, where I go to do the shopping have just put in ticket dispencers that you have to put your reg in as you pay for your ticket. CRAPP idea I first thought as I got socked as I stood in line with others as it is a slow process. I think now it's a good idea as that means there is a record on the dispencer of my reg and what time I got the ticket, not bad for fifty pence Quote
a4gom Posted August 9, 2006 Posted August 9, 2006 Your have a holiday in florida - and you come on here expecting Sympathy not after any sympathy boys i'm sure i will have forgotten all about it after 12 laps round daytona at 170mph+ Quote
Tubs Posted August 9, 2006 Posted August 9, 2006 Unfortunately the unthinking, uncaring application of arbitrary rules and regulations has become accepted as the norm in modern society. In this case I think that the council and it's employees have lost sight of their primary purpose, so yes, I do believe they are being imbecilic. What is unthinking and arbitrary about having rules which state that parking is for a maximum of 2 hours? What is unthinking and arbitrary about rules which allow someone to identify how long somebody has parked in a certain space? What is unthinking and arbitrary about a system which ensures that all parking fines are issued fairly with an appropriate appeals mechanism? What is unthinking and arbitrary about applying the known rules to everyone? What is the primary purpose? To ensure that everyone has an opportunity to park without people taking the p*** and parking there all day - thus preventing others making use of the spaces? How is this achieved? By ensuring that people display a valid symbol which identifies how long they have been parked for. Sorry, I think it's you, not the Council, which has lost the plot on this one. Whilst I agree with everything you've said, (looking to ensure escape route is clear and flack jacket donned) rules exist to allow justice to prevail. This requires an application of skill and, had this been done by the warden, there would have been less time spent resolving this issue and better public / civil service relations. As for the council and its employees following arbitrary rules and regulations without consideration is inevitable in today's litigious society. Tubs Quote
YouMustBeJoking Posted August 9, 2006 Author Posted August 9, 2006 The 2 hour free parking limit is totally arbitrary. It may be reasonable and personally I don't disagree with it, but it is arbitrary. The parking ticket makes no mention of an appeals mechanism. There is no address for appeals, just one for payment. If there is an appeals mechanism, what possible grounds do I have. Forgetfulness, pre-oocupation? If they accept my appeal, what reason do they have to turn down anybody else who appeals? None. If that is correct reasoning then my appeal is more than likely to be rejected. Then I get hit by the next stroke of genius. The ticket clearly states that payment of £20 must be made within seven days or the charge is doubled. That should encourage me to appeal. Who decides on the outcome of the appeal. Is that fair and transparent? Who knows, I certainly don't and there is no obvious mechanism for finding the answer. Stand back from the argument a moment and think "What exactly was my crime?" I parked my car in a marked bay and I returned to it in well under the maximum time limit. There were dozens of available spaces. My "crime" was forgetfulness. Should that be penalised so harshly. Application of the same penalty as exceeding the time limit implies an assumption of guilt on my part something our current group of politicians seems to find acceptable, but that is really another debate. The fairness that you describe is simply a thin veneer that fails serious scrutiny. It is not difficult to devise a system that at no extra cost warns those who fail to display their "time of arrival" disc and fines those that exceed the published time limit. It is unlikely that this will happen though because of the "rules are rules" mentality that pervades petty officialdom. Mrs Westy, you are allowed one more reply and then we must buy each other a beer. Quote
Mark Stanton Posted August 9, 2006 Posted August 9, 2006 Life would be so much easier and less stressful if local businesses applied similar approach to parking fees as is done in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast in Oz Gold Coast Parking Attendants I've never seen anyone getting irate or angry with parking in surfers Quote
John Loudon - Sponsorship Liaison Posted August 9, 2006 Posted August 9, 2006 Put false plates on when parking Quote
Mrs Westy Posted August 9, 2006 Posted August 9, 2006 I refer the honourable gentleman back to the answers (and questions posed) I've already given, you've not raised any new points to the ones I've already answered. Yes maybe all you did was forget to put your ticket up, but how does the attendant know you haven't parked there all day? Do you think he should just take your word for it? In which case, he'd have to take everyone's word for it, and then people would take the p***, and the car park would be full of commuters leaving their cars there all day. That's not a 'rules are rules' mentality pervading officialdom, it's just a fact of life that rules have to exist to provide some kind of order. What fair alternative at no additional cost do you suggest? QUOTE The fairness that you describe is simply a thin veneer that fails serious scrutiny. It is not difficult to devise a system that at no extra cost warns those who fail to display their "time of arrival" disc and fines those that exceed the published time limit. Such as? Please do tell me of such a system which doesn't involve additional administration, time and cost (as we all know, otherwise you'll just criticise the council for putting the taxes up...) If you come up with a workable solution which meets the legislative requirements, I'm sure Councils will be thrilled to hear from you! And you're quite right - you probably haven't got a valid grounds for appeal, because whether you were displaying a valid ticket or not is a question of fact. The timing for doubling of price is suspended on appeal...you'll probably find the details somewhere on the ticket. If you don't - then yes that in itself is a failure on the part of the Council. More than anything, I just object to the sweeping notion that people in local government are imbeciles. Like I said, who is the imbecile - the one who has made reasonable rules to allow everyone a fair crack at a couple of hours parking, or the one who forgot to apply them Just admit that you were a muppet, that the warden wasn't doing anything outrageous, accept it and move on Mine's a dry white wine please Quote
Mark Stanton Posted August 9, 2006 Posted August 9, 2006 QUOTE More than anything, I just object to the sweeping notion that people in local government are imbeciles. Certainly not all ............................... however I can name a few that work in Birmingham, Sandwell, Walsall and Dudley LA's Would you like a straw with your wine Mrs W Quote
Mrs Westy Posted August 9, 2006 Posted August 9, 2006 Splendid, green Micra straw for me thanks Mr S Quote
westy Posted August 10, 2006 Posted August 10, 2006 The fairness that you describe is simply a thin veneer that fails serious scrutiny. It is not difficult to devise a system that at no extra cost warns those who fail to display their "time of arrival" disc and fines those that exceed the published time limit. Such as? Please do tell me of such a system which doesn't involve additional administration, time and cost (as we all know, otherwise you'll just criticise the council for putting the taxes up...) If you come up with a workable solution which meets the legislative requirements, I'm sure Councils will be thrilled to hear from you! And you're quite right - you probably haven't got a valid grounds for appeal, because whether you were displaying a valid ticket or not is a question of fact. The timing for doubling of price is suspended on appeal...you'll probably find the details somewhere on the ticket. If you don't - then yes that in itself is a failure on the part of the Council. More than anything, I just object to the sweeping notion that people in local government are imbeciles. Like I said, who is the imbecile - the one who has made reasonable rules to allow everyone a fair crack at a couple of hours parking, or the one who forgot to apply them Just admit that you were a muppet, that the warden wasn't doing anything outrageous, accept it and move on Mine's a dry white wine please more rabbit than Sainsbury's Gents, it might be an idea to put a reoccurring event in the Events section for this particular 4 weekly cycle. Quote
Mark Stanton Posted August 10, 2006 Posted August 10, 2006 *takes comfy chair, popcorn and sits back to enjoy the spectacle* Quote
Mrs Westy Posted August 10, 2006 Posted August 10, 2006 I think this session will be concluded in the privacy of the Westy household...you may not see Westy online again for a very long time. *thwack* Quote
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