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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 'Periscope' parking fines quashed | 'Periscope' parking fines quashed |
| (about 19 hours later) | |
| Motorists issued with parking fines after being caught out by so-called "spy cars" may now have grounds to appeal after a legal ruling. | Motorists issued with parking fines after being caught out by so-called "spy cars" may now have grounds to appeal after a legal ruling. |
| Rachel Johnson, 32, challenged three £60 fines issued by Wirral Council using evidence gathered by Smart Cars fitted with periscope cameras. | Rachel Johnson, 32, challenged three £60 fines issued by Wirral Council using evidence gathered by Smart Cars fitted with periscope cameras. |
| A tribunal upheld her claim she was loading and unloading her car when the the Penalty Charge Notices were issued. | |
| About 30 councils across England and Wales are believed to use the cameras. | About 30 councils across England and Wales are believed to use the cameras. |
| 'Privacy invaded' | 'Privacy invaded' |
| Ms Johnson appealed to the local authority after receiving three tickets in the space of a week. | Ms Johnson appealed to the local authority after receiving three tickets in the space of a week. |
| On each occasion, she had parked briefly on double yellow lines outside the off-licence she runs in New Brighton. | On each occasion, she had parked briefly on double yellow lines outside the off-licence she runs in New Brighton. |
| "I felt like my privacy had been invaded," she told the BBC. | "I felt like my privacy had been invaded," she told the BBC. |
| "We were just going about our business, trying to run a business, and I knew we were allowed to park here." | "We were just going about our business, trying to run a business, and I knew we were allowed to park here." |
| The fines were overturned by the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, which rules on appeals against parking penalties issued by councils in England and Wales. | The fines were overturned by the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, which rules on appeals against parking penalties issued by councils in England and Wales. |
| For just general enforcement local authorities shouldn't be using CCTV Neil Herron, parking fine campaigner | For just general enforcement local authorities shouldn't be using CCTV Neil Herron, parking fine campaigner |
| It ruled the charges were invalid because there was a lack of evidence that adequate signs were in place about the cameras. | |
| A Wirral Borough Council spokesperson said they were reviewing the recommendations issued by the tribunal. | A Wirral Borough Council spokesperson said they were reviewing the recommendations issued by the tribunal. |
| "Anyone who has received a parking ticket and feels that they have a valid reason to appeal is able to do so through the appeals process detailed. | "Anyone who has received a parking ticket and feels that they have a valid reason to appeal is able to do so through the appeals process detailed. |
| "Each case is reviewed on its own merits." | "Each case is reviewed on its own merits." |
| The Local Government Association (LGA) said councils which used the periscope cameras for parking fines would also be studying the implications of the tribunal ruling. | The Local Government Association (LGA) said councils which used the periscope cameras for parking fines would also be studying the implications of the tribunal ruling. |
| Parking fine campaigner Neil Herron said the use of the periscope cameras was no substitute for experienced parking attendants. | Parking fine campaigner Neil Herron said the use of the periscope cameras was no substitute for experienced parking attendants. |
| "CCTV enforcement should only be where parking attendants can't go - where it's too dangerous or too restrictive. | "CCTV enforcement should only be where parking attendants can't go - where it's too dangerous or too restrictive. |
| "For just general enforcement local authorities shouldn't be using CCTV. | "For just general enforcement local authorities shouldn't be using CCTV. |
| "A CCTV camera doesn't record whether loading or unloading is taking place, whether a blue badge has been displayed, whether there was any exemptions in the traffic order." | "A CCTV camera doesn't record whether loading or unloading is taking place, whether a blue badge has been displayed, whether there was any exemptions in the traffic order." |