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Driver criticises Smart car fines
Chris Bandaranaike who is appealing the fine he received after being snapped by Peterborough City Councils Smart car. Photo: Peterborough ET
A MOTORIST who was given a parking ticket by the city council’s roving Smart car has criticised the authority for using the vehicle to “generate money”.
Chris Bandaranaike was given a £70 ticket after his Mercedes car was spotted in a taxi rank in Midgate, Peterborough, on January 31.
Mr Bandaranaike, from Bretton, claims he waited in the rank intending to stop for a few minutes so he could pick up his wife.
However, his vehicle was photographed by the council’s Smart car operator and a few days later he was sent the ticket.
Mr Bandaranaike is appealing against the fine, claiming that although the photograph appears to show his car unattended, this was not the case.
He said: “For some reason the pictures taken by the Smart car show my car looking left unattended and that was not the case at all – I think I may have been obscured by the camera’s flash.
“I decided to stop in the taxi rank because it was empty and I was only going to be waiting for three or four minutes.
“Had a traffic warden come along and told me to move on then I would have had no problem with that.
“The Smart car system lacks the common sense approach which a warden or a police officer might use.
“It’s this attitude that makes me wonder if the council is more interested in generating money than helping people out.”
A Peterborough City Council spokeswoman said: “Any appeals relating to issued parking tickets are thoroughly investigated and the council will always inform the person of the result as soon as possible.”
The ET reported last month that almost £25,000 has been paid in fines by drivers caught by the council’s Smart car in its first three months in operation.
During that period the vehicle was used in the issuing and processing of 1,453 fines – raising £24,388.10.
The authority’s nine traffic enforcement officers take it in turns to drive the car around, while the other eight remain on foot.
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Comments
There are 29 comments to this article
Page 1 of 2
HollygoLula
Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 07:15 PMIf there were 2 cars parked in the rank, one with a blue badge, one without...would they both get fined? After all, they're both causing an obstruction?
HollygoLula
Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 06:27 PMI dont have any sympathy for taxis....why are they allowed to use bus lanes? They're still a hole in in the ozone spewing car?
Peterborough Monitor
Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 08:43 AMThe trouble with photographs it freezes an instant of time, so stopping to pick up someone is classed as parking? so if someone steps into the road & the driver stops to avoid hitting said person, and the gets photographed, that is defined as "parked" because that is what the photograph will show.
Veritas of Peterborough
Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 06:04 PMHopefully he will learn his lesson and not park there again or if he must wait "three or four" minutes then park in a pay and display bay and display a valid ticket. This car is doing a wonderful job and could probably rake in enough money from all the mothers in their chelsea tractors outside Kings School to prevent further increases in our council tax.
PottyBoroPensioner
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 08:58 PMhere we go again with that same old chestnut (i was only there for a minute officer) when I pick up my wife she meets me in a legal place so I dont get a ticket, dont matter if you were in your car or in the toilet you shouldnt of been there you clown, no good crying now, you would have been better off tell theing the council that you have a old banger that needed a rest as you have just came all the way from gladstone street, muppet, stop moaning and park legally like the rest if us
HOTRodders
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 07:58 PMWHAT? NO CRY OF RACIST? WOW! well after all the MERC is WHITE! he shouldnt have been parked there anyway if he is not a taxi!
crowlord
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 07:56 PMAs Nelsen Muntz would say "HAR HAR"
henryjames
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 05:16 PMdont you find it amazing that we pay road tax to use roads, but cant actually stop or park on a high percentage of roads. he should pay treble for actually owning a white merc
gilroy
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 04:27 PMSmart car only generates cash when people like Merc driver disregard law pay up and take note of signs, keep up good work smarty
ResidentinPeterborough
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 01:48 PMI always wait for a ring from my partner then pick her up. your there 5 seconds and don't get a fine. As voice of reason said he shouldn't be parked there if he wasn't a taxi.
Lord Thorncote
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 12:36 PMAs a driver and a homeowner, if these fines help keep all our council tax bills down then I don't mind. Even if it is a money making scheme at least the money is going to the council which may help keep some of our local authority workers in a job. At the end of the day, those fined were parked illegally, even if only for a minute or two.
brendee
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 12:30 PMIf we all stuck to the speed limit and parked where we should,the use of speed cameras and traffic wardens would become uneconomical. The country would then save millions of £'s by making them redundant,and it would be a safer place to drive and park. It's a vicious circle of course because there would be thousands of unemployed traffic wardens and zero income from cameras and fines.
polcop
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 12:24 PMThere are cases where a Smart car fine collector can make mistakes and these are well documented in other places - however this is not one you cannot stop in a taxi rank for whatever reason so stop whingeing and pay up. This is in effect a non story and I'm quite surprised the ET has even run it!
voice of treason
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 11:13 AMPay the £70 fine and learn from your mistake. For a pathetic appeal I would personally double the fine. The Smart car might be a money generator but if you dont want the fine dont commit the crime!!!
voice of treason
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 10:58 AMPointless story this, the person has admitted he was in a taxi rank bay therefore he is guilty. Take a look at the Highway Code, 240 You MUST NOT stop or park on •taxi bays as indicated by upright signs and markings also 243DO NOT stop or park •at or near a bus or tram stop or taxi rank
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