Motorists are being warned that to ignore penalty notices imposed on Allerdale Borough Council car parks could be a very expensive mistake!
Allerdale’s car parks service has a policy of pursuing every penalty that is issued for any offence against its Parking Places Orders.
Most offenders respond quickly, within the seven day timescale, and thereby pay only the lower amount of £20.
Many drivers do not respond and are traced by the council. In the majority of these cases, the driver is required to settle in the full amount of £70. However, for many others, refusal to pay or respond ends in court with an even bigger bill.
In 2001, 145 cases were taken before the magistrates and, so far in 2002, 114 people have been prosecuted, fined and have had to pay costs.
Eddie Woodthorpe, Allerdale’s Corporate Services Manager, said: “The main reason that people have found themselves at court is possibly because they do not believe the council's resolve in Allerdale.
“Presently, we will accept payment of any penalty in a lower amount (£20) within seven days of receipt.
“If the motorist feels that they have a genuine reason not to pay a penalty then, provided that they write to the council as soon as possible after getting the penalty and state their reasons, the penalty will remain at the lower amount until the appeal has been dealt with and either 'waived' or reinforced.
“All owners that are traced are sent a letter informing them of the council’s intention to prosecute and inviting them to pay the full amount (£70). If this does not result in settlement, it is likely that they will receive a summons to appear in court.
“Often at that time, drivers will try to settle matters rather than go to court. In those instances, we require payment of the full penalty, the cost of the summons and also the costs of our Legal Service.”
However, there are people who continue to ignore the situation even at that point and find themselves before the magistrates.
“Where this happens and the driver is found guilty then apart from the council’s costs as above they are normally also fined by the court as parking offences under the Road traffic Regulation Act 1984 are criminal offences,” said Mr Woodthorpe.
“The message to those unfortunate enough to obtain a penalty must be to deal with it and not assume that it will be forgotten.
“By dealing with a penalty early, motorists can save themselves literally hundreds of pounds in each instance.”
