What can i do about a rediculous penalty charge?

[00mike00]

So in the new year I went with my fiancé to London to see her family. Driving around the Islington area I find myself committing an offence which I had no idea about until now. The jokers are asking for £130 for going around a sign the wrong way. Personally I’ve never seen this kind of road layout and not being used to the area at all, I wasn’t aware of this kind of thing.
I’ve attached some photos so you can see what they’ve sent me. Has anyone dealt with this kind of sham…this really is money for nothing.

[composimmonite]

Don't think there is anything you can do. It's council / Police who have caught you and have right to issue penalty charged unlike private parking companies so they will pursue all the way to court.
Be careful about saying you didn't see any sign as it's obvious from the pics something was happening to road so you'd be admitting not paying enough "Due care and Attention".
Sorry but IMO mark it up to experience and pay before the charge increased.

Paul h

[grumpy]

Sorry but i think they have got you there . I am surprised at the amount for the fine though , it seems high . Maybe the thing to do would be to stop and have a good look if the road markings seem odd . I admit ive never seen anything like that , i don't understand what its for .

[compass]

Sorry, but there`s nothing you can do. You`ll just have to swallow the fine, and put it down to experience.

I know London driving can be "interesting"..........but what actually made you go to the right hand side of the sign anyway? Surely natural instinct when driving is to stick to the left of any central reservation/obstruction/sign? Not having a dig.....just wandering

[sprintmini]

Looks like lots of spilt diesel in the other lane and you as an experienced driver could clearly smell from inside your vehicle therefore took the safety first option and took the dry lane to avoid a possible collision with the street furniture.

[dodgerover]

Jan 16, 2014 10:45:13 GMT sprintmini said:

Looks like lots of spilt diesel in the other lane and you as an experienced driver could clearly smell from inside your vehicle therefore took the safety first option and took the dry lane to avoid a possible collision with the street furniture.

What on earth was going on in the road anyway? (A width restriction maybe?) I can see no entry on road on the narrow bit coming the other way and the backs of some signs coming your way. If it was a width restriction then the above excuse seems a reasonable reason to be on the wrong side of the road as you clearly could have fitted through your side.

[justanotherhigh]

Very strange, I would have done the same thing when presented with that in the road -_- what exactly is it supposed to be?
Only in London, I'm sure.

Well, you got two cracking aerial car photos, even if they were very pricy.
I've never found it worthwhile arguing over this kind of thing, they've always got a counter-argument with the 'law' on their side.

[dreadnought]

so that camera must have been placed there to catch this happening? not much of an easy money making scam then.

[zipgun]

Easy ! Tell them it was fiance driving.. Its not right anyway,130 quid for that.Think it says "Fire Access Keep Clear "?
These bollards make me laugh, especially the one at 1 minute in..

[joem83]

I don't get that layout, where was it (so we can streetview it)

[Darkspeed]

From Islington website

Moving traffic enforcement
Under the London Local Authority Act 2003 the council can issue fines to motorists who disobey traffic signs and pose a threat to the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and other motorists. These offences are called Moving Traffic Contraventions and can be penalised with a £130 fine.

Moving traffic contraventions include such things as banned right or left turns, no entries, blocking a yellow box junction, going the wrong way in a one way street and illegal U turns.

Deterring drivers who commit these contraventions improves the safety, wellbeing and environment of residents and visitors to Islington, making the borough a better place to live and work.

CCTV camera enforcement

Enforcement of moving traffic contraventions is carried out using both static CCTV cameras and branded CCTV camera vehicles that record contraventions.

Motorists who ignore road signs and markings will be issued with a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) for £130, reduced by 50% if paid within 14 days. All PCNs are supported by CCTV evidence. If you have received a PCN you can view the images online.

There is a legal requirement that cameras used to enforce parking and bus lane contraventions by CCTV are certificated by the Secretary of State, however moving traffic enforcement cameras do not currently need this approval.

Enforcement priorities

Our main priorities for parking enforcement are:

road casualty hot spots
schools and surrounding areas
sites where residents have complained about irresponsible parking or dangerous driving.


- Hmmm - stuffed I would say. - Pay early and half the pain.

[sprintmini]

^^^^^^ yep expensive pics ^^^^^^^

[ChasR]

What is the street name of where the offence took place?

[00mike00]

Hi guys, sorry for the delay. The road is Malborough Road, N19. I’ve had a quick peek at work but I couldn’t see the section of road with this on.
If someone could take a screen shot that would be great. My laptop died at home and I can only use this PC at work but I’m always being called away.

I can understand people saying don’t argue just pay but I’m actually asking for some clarification on what exactly I’m paying for. The whole point of the ‘bribe’ being issued is that you just jump at the chance to throw money at them. I’d rather understand first then pay….if I have to of course.

[joem83]

Bit confusing but there is a big blue arrow:


Could argue that the road was wet so the glare made it impossible to see the worn out road markings

This is one of the many reasons I have been to many capital citys arround the world - but not London & if I have my way, never will.

[Porsche]

The fine does seem very expensive, but I'd say you've been caught bang to rights.

We drive on the left in this country, there's a big blue keep left sign, a bollard with the same keep left sign on it. There's even a camera warning sign.

If you ignored these signs at a roundabout, you'd say fair dues...sorry mate.

[00mike00]

I see the sign now but as I approached that layout, the option of going through a route just passable by car and the other which is not a no entry, I chose the latter. I can see (just about) that it is for Fire access but as a keep clear section it doesn’t say no entry.
The fine amount is just ridiculous, I can understand it’s an offense but I haven’t and wouldn’t cause any problems passing either side from the looks of it. I can't believe people have these jobs.

[welshpug]

goo.gl/maps/Q5EV1

whilst there are no "no entry" signs to the right, there are keep left arrows as mentioned, and we drive on the left, the car caught on camera by google managed it...

[Deleted]

hmm keep looking at this so one way street, two available lanes until the narrowed section, which you are expected to move over to the left to travel through if your not already over that side, and no no entry sign on the right wider side, also in the 2nd pic it looks like the parked car is much further back causing an obstuction also the car on the left as you look at pic is partially blocking the disabled bay.
shouldnt there be at least a no entry sign or painted on the road to the right?
i don't think you would get out of the fine sadly but it is a poor road lay out and no doubt there are many other people who would get caught out by it. great money maker for the council

[PandaSelecta]

Best you can do with this if you are planning on contesting it, is to saw that as the road is a one way, and there are no "no entry" signs on the right hand lane, you were perfectly within your rights to use that lane, especially as the writing is badly faded and even if you were able to read it, it says "keep clear", not "no entry".

You could also ask for advice here...
forums.pepipoo.com/

and here...
forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=163