Stop giving us parking tickets or we'll blockade town, say taxi drivers (From Thisisdorset)
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Stop giving us parking tickets or we'll blockade town, say taxi drivers
9:00am Thursday 11th October 2012 in Latest By Stephen Bailey
A camera car in action
FURIOUS taxi drivers are considering a “blockade” of Bournemouth town centre in protest over parking tickets.
They are thinking of direct action because the camera car is issuing fines “like confetti”.
Driver Tony Walker brought up the issue at October’s meeting of the town’s chamber of commerce.
He said drivers were getting fined for pick-ups in bus stops and on double yellows with restrictions.
Mr Walker, who works for Winton-based Mobile Radio Cars, said: “People are considering a blockade of Bournemouth.
“There’s a lot of anger out there.
“The problem is the camera car issuing tickets like confetti.
“We have tried talking with the parking department but got nowhere.”
After the meeting he told the Daily Echo drivers had won refunds after recently discovering a law that allows them to load and unload.
But he said the fines were still being issued for pick-ups on roads with a ban on stopping.
He said: “Many of our customers are elderly and it’s not easy for them to get around.”
He added: “It’s a small group of drivers that are proposing the blockade.”
The camera car was originally intended to catch motorists who park on school zigzags and bus stops but is now also used to catch people on double yellow lines where there is no loading or unloading.
The Echo revealed in February how 481 innocent drivers had been fined by the camera car in three years.
Gary Powell, the council’s parking and traffic manager, said: “The camera car is a road safety initiative which has proven benefits.
“We have in the past discussed the issue of ticketing taxis who park in areas where the camera car patrol.
“Where a taxi driver is legitimately operating and the vehicle is occupied they will not be issued with a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).
“However, a PCN will be issued if the vehicle is not occupied and there is no evidence that they are operating as a taxi. The driver would have the right to appeal.
“Should the taxi trade have any further concerns we would be more than happy to meet with them.”
Comments(35)
Dibbles2
says...
9:19am Thu 11 Oct 12
lily4me
says...
9:31am Thu 11 Oct 12
Frank28
says...
9:32am Thu 11 Oct 12
The Liberal
says...
9:33am Thu 11 Oct 12
Boredofthiscountry
says...
9:37am Thu 11 Oct 12
The Renegade Master
says...
9:41am Thu 11 Oct 12
However, I think the Council's camera car is an absolute disgrace and there for one purpose only. Revenue generation. The Council have also painted double yellow lines just about everywhere anyone wants to be to maximise their potential income!
Since motorists got wise to the speed camera scam and fines declined, the authorities have been looking for new ways to shaft the soft target motorist and this camera car is just the beginning. Expect the Council to buy more of these contraptions with OUR money so they can persecute more of US!
live-and-let-live
says...
10:11am Thu 11 Oct 12
Dibbles2
says...
10:22am Thu 11 Oct 12
live-and-let-live wrote:I agree with some aspects of your comment, there are too many yellow lines in places that they arent really needed. However in regards to schools its about child safety and not making money.If people cant be bothered to walk or at least get out of their cars to collect there children or drop them off then we have a sad society.
there are far more yellow lines, zig-zags and other parking restrictions than is needed in most towns. these are not there for safety reasons. they are there to make money. it works because people are left with no where to stop. why dont the councils make it easier for people to stop for a few minutes? why is it so difficult for mums to pick up their children from school? its to make money.
News reader
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10:25am Thu 11 Oct 12
live-and-let-live wrote:I do agree with you, regarding the fact that there are too many yellow lines etc.
there are far more yellow lines, zig-zags and other parking restrictions than is needed in most towns. these are not there for safety reasons. they are there to make money. it works because people are left with no where to stop. why dont the councils make it easier for people to stop for a few minutes? why is it so difficult for mums to pick up their children from school? its to make money.
However, if people can't park a few minutes away and walk to collect their children, I think that's very sad.
Holes Bay Curve
says...
10:49am Thu 11 Oct 12
A resent 'classic' was two police cars park on opposite sides of the road outside Poole police station - one on one side parked in the active bus/cycle lane , on the other side of the road was a second parked on double yellow lines and the CYCLE lane - both close to a pedestrian crossing and both causing traffic chaos for commuters and buses alike at 8:15 am.
muscliffman
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11:36am Thu 11 Oct 12
Couchy125
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12:14pm Thu 11 Oct 12
muscliffman wrote:Great idea. Bring them on. As a local taxi driver I would welcome them. It's about time they sorted out who is legal and who ain't. And I do hope that involves the police to check the cars as well. Some of the sheds I see on the ranks are a disgrace.
What a shame, break the rules and get fined - outrageous. Even worse to come for I hear that Benefit Fraud and Immigration Officers will soon be deploying their own camera cars around the town at night.
buickboy
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12:22pm Thu 11 Oct 12
Azphreal
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12:32pm Thu 11 Oct 12
glennzilla
says...
1:57pm Thu 11 Oct 12
Of course, if any taxi driver is not abiding by the law then they should be punished accordingly, however the camera car is indiscriminate in its detection as snapshots only tell part of the story especially as at just 20mph it would be covering almost 10metres per sec. How long can a car be unoccupied when assisting with luggage? Also how long does it take for people to get in or out of a car especially if they are elderly or disabled?
We all moan when we're caught and punished for committing a minor offence but we have to accept it when clearly in the wrong, however we (not just taxi drivers) have every right to be upset for being punished for doing something we're entitled to do!
thevisitor
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2:22pm Thu 11 Oct 12
penhale
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2:31pm Thu 11 Oct 12
.
Yea, mainly to raise revenue and harass hard working people of this country, their no better than the illegal clampers.
mikey2gorgeous
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2:32pm Thu 11 Oct 12
Any frequent visitor to Cardigan Rd, Winton where they have their call centre will confirm when there are no parking spaces left they will just double-park in the road until someone moves then grab the space which severely disadvantages anyone else wanting to park. Or simply park with all 4 wheels on the pavement build-out where it meets Waterloo Rd.
mikey2gorgeous
says...
2:39pm Thu 11 Oct 12
penhale wrote:Funny how some people get the phrases "hard working" and "law breaking" mixed up!
Gary Powell, the council’s parking and traffic manager, said: “The camera car is a road safety initiative which has proven benefits.
.
Yea, mainly to raise revenue and harass hard working people of this country, their no better than the illegal clampers.
It seems to be the same ones who feel that fines for anti-social behaviour are an immoral cash generation exercise.
We all pay enough for our police and wardens - why shouldn't the criminals be made to contribute?
polblagger
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2:42pm Thu 11 Oct 12
It has now clearly become a revenue stream for an inefficient council that wastes money like water.
Is there a legal case here for misrepresentation and misappropriation of funds by whoever has perverted the original intended use of this car?
penhale
says...
2:48pm Thu 11 Oct 12
mikey2gorgeous wrote:Same old claptrap from you as usual, most of these stupid regulations are made up just to rake in yet more money from cash strapped people.
penhale wrote:Funny how some people get the phrases "hard working" and "law breaking" mixed up!
Gary Powell, the council’s parking and traffic manager, said: “The camera car is a road safety initiative which has proven benefits.
.
Yea, mainly to raise revenue and harass hard working people of this country, their no better than the illegal clampers.
It seems to be the same ones who feel that fines for anti-social behaviour are an immoral cash generation exercise.
We all pay enough for our police and wardens - why shouldn't the criminals be made to contribute?
Since when has stopping on a yellow line for 20 second to pick someone up been an anti social crime.
Its a pity they don't fine people for stupidity, you would be skint by the end of the month.
mikey2gorgeous
says...
3:06pm Thu 11 Oct 12
Tell us, oh wise one, how do you suggest we enforce traffic laws without fines?
HRH of Boscombe
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3:22pm Thu 11 Oct 12
penhale
says...
5:24pm Thu 11 Oct 12
mikey2gorgeous wrote:Read the article, taxi drivers are being fined for stopping on bus stops and yellow lines which have restrictions to pick people up, Just recently a lorry driver was ticketed for stopping on a yellow line because of a flat tyre, if that's not revenue raising I don't know what is, I and many others have been warned for stopping on yellows while dropping off a passenger on the way home from work, it's getting more like Nazi Germany in this country with black booted dicks in uniform waiting behind lamp posts ready to pounce at the sign of a brake light, it's all gone to far and idiots like you applaud them.
Stopping on a yellow line to pick someone up isn't against the law. Why are you suggesting it is?
Tell us, oh wise one, how do you suggest we enforce traffic laws without fines?
FNS-man
says...
6:12pm Thu 11 Oct 12
penhale wrote:But it's the motorists who are gassing everyone else => they're the nazis?
mikey2gorgeous wrote: Stopping on a yellow line to pick someone up isn't against the law. Why are you suggesting it is? Tell us, oh wise one, how do you suggest we enforce traffic laws without fines?Read the article, taxi drivers are being fined for stopping on bus stops and yellow lines which have restrictions to pick people up, Just recently a lorry driver was ticketed for stopping on a yellow line because of a flat tyre, if that's not revenue raising I don't know what is, I and many others have been warned for stopping on yellows while dropping off a passenger on the way home from work, it's getting more like Nazi Germany in this country with black booted dicks in uniform waiting behind lamp posts ready to pounce at the sign of a brake light, it's all gone to far and idiots like you applaud them.
muscliffman
says...
6:34pm Thu 11 Oct 12
polblagger wrote:Give the Council Officers a break, They have to find more and more of our money to balance their books.
Presumably when the budget was approved for this camera car it was done so on the proviso that it was being commissioned to improve road safety.
It has now clearly become a revenue stream for an inefficient council that wastes money like water.
Is there a legal case here for misrepresentation and misappropriation of funds by whoever has perverted the original intended use of this car?
How else are they going to pay themselves those fabulous publicly funded pensions.
Car user
says...
6:43pm Thu 11 Oct 12
I will lay odds on that the number of tickets issued will rise very soon as seen in other parts of the country.
If you get a ticket and wish to find some help, go to http://www.pepipoo.c
om/
mattkuk
says...
7:07pm Thu 11 Oct 12
penhale
says...
7:11pm Thu 11 Oct 12
FNS-man wrote:What the hells that got to do with parking tickets, get off your soap box and go and hug a tree.
penhale wrote:But it's the motorists who are gassing everyone else => they're the nazis?
mikey2gorgeous wrote: Stopping on a yellow line to pick someone up isn't against the law. Why are you suggesting it is? Tell us, oh wise one, how do you suggest we enforce traffic laws without fines?Read the article, taxi drivers are being fined for stopping on bus stops and yellow lines which have restrictions to pick people up, Just recently a lorry driver was ticketed for stopping on a yellow line because of a flat tyre, if that's not revenue raising I don't know what is, I and many others have been warned for stopping on yellows while dropping off a passenger on the way home from work, it's getting more like Nazi Germany in this country with black booted dicks in uniform waiting behind lamp posts ready to pounce at the sign of a brake light, it's all gone to far and idiots like you applaud them.
Dibbles2
says...
8:57pm Thu 11 Oct 12
Couchy125 wrote:So glad you have said that. We saw a yellow car posing as a taxi come out of the rank at the train station today. I would have taken its reg but was driving at the time. No hackney plate on the back. There are a lot of those shed taxis about but it seems that the council dont care when people do complain about them.
muscliffman wrote:Great idea. Bring them on. As a local taxi driver I would welcome them. It's about time they sorted out who is legal and who ain't. And I do hope that involves the police to check the cars as well. Some of the sheds I see on the ranks are a disgrace.
What a shame, break the rules and get fined - outrageous. Even worse to come for I hear that Benefit Fraud and Immigration Officers will soon be deploying their own camera cars around the town at night.
brightspark4
says...
1:46am Fri 12 Oct 12
Council have been advised of his name and plate number twice and taken no action.
pete woodley
says...
10:49am Fri 12 Oct 12
mikey2gorgeous wrote:Glad you mentioned this,they are the worst,they just park anywhere,and worst park on the corner of waterloo rd,by their office,making it difficult for cars turning right into cardigan rd.Why do the wardens allow it ?.
This would be Mobile Radio Cars who show a shocking disregard for parking regulations?
Any frequent visitor to Cardigan Rd, Winton where they have their call centre will confirm when there are no parking spaces left they will just double-park in the road until someone moves then grab the space which severely disadvantages anyone else wanting to park. Or simply park with all 4 wheels on the pavement build-out where it meets Waterloo Rd.
Couchy125
says...
12:07pm Fri 12 Oct 12
brightspark4 wrote:Who are yellows. The yellow taxis are hackney's in bournemouth. Every company has them. Also they are independent owners. So if you want to expose a driver. Plate number please.and keep on to the town hall until they do something about the idiot.
I know a taxi driver (Tristan) with Yellows who is Cypriot, walks down the road openly smoking cannabis then gets in his taxi after another at home and goes to work.
Council have been advised of his name and plate number twice and taken no action.
Wesoblind
says...
9:55am Sat 13 Oct 12
brightspark4 wrote:Nothing to do with taxis but i have a neigbough who drives with no licene or insurance, i have given lots of info to the police but to this day he still drives on his merry way every morning to work, oh illegal work as he and his wife claim all the benifits under the sun!
I know a taxi driver (Tristan) with Yellows who is Cypriot, walks down the road openly smoking cannabis then gets in his taxi after another at home and goes to work.
Council have been advised of his name and plate number twice and taken no action.
MrPitiful says...
9:19am Thu 11 Oct 12
We residents of the area would have been fined 10 times over if our cars were parked there, however the local beat traffic wardens just walk on by and let the cabbies get away with it.
It's about time the taxis were treated the same as the rest of us.
Either enforce the laws fairly for everyone or don't enforce them at all - and refund everyone!