A Labour council “ripped off” greater than 350 vehicle drivers it fined for getting in a yellow box in spite of the roadway markings “serving no purpose whatsoever”.
Newham council banked ₤ 23,000 from fine cost notifications (PCNs) provided at the exact same place throughout a month of roadworks when an examination situation penalty “should not have been issued”.
Ricardo Bowden got a PCN after getting in the yellow box on Barking Road in eastern London where cones had actually been set out while the roadway was being collected in April and May in 2015.
After the council declined his charm, the 49-year-old motability electrical auto vehicle driver took his situation to London Tribunals.
Eventually, Newham yielded: “The PCN should not have been issued due to roadworks blocking the turn for which the box junction was installed.”
In a pungent expenses judgment, the tribunal arbitrators concurred that “at the material time the box markings served no purpose whatsoever and did not fulfil its statutory purpose” prior to wrapping up the regional authority was two times “wholly unreasonable” in its handling of the situation. The tribunal bought city center managers to pay Mr Bowden’s lawful expenses.
Mr Bowden, together with Ivan Murray-Smith, his supporter, after that sent a flexibility of info demand that exposed exactly how throughout the month-long roadworks the council provided 376 PCNs, “recovering” ₤ 22,975 from 306 paid penalties for the exact same place.
“The council is printing money for fines, which should now all be paid back,” Mr Bowden, from eastern London, stated: “Newham initially rejected my appeal, simply dismissing it out of hand. A lot of people would then just pay up because they don’t want the grief. It is absolutely disgraceful that the council has money from similar fines.”
Mr Murray-Smith stated: “Newham has ripped off hundreds of drivers. The council is laughing all the way to the bank.
“The council’s attitude is no different to the attitude the Post Office had shown to many sub-postmasters; namely that it’s their fault for not appealing their cases.
“The council seems to accept now that they should have never issued those fines in the first place.”
Asked whether the council acted immorally and need to not have actually fined the various other 375 vehicle drivers that were additionally recorded on CCTV getting in the yellow box joint while roadway jobs were being accomplished, a Newham council spokesperson stated: “Enforcement of yellow box junctions is vital to keeping traffic moving on Newham’s roads.
“While we acknowledge that roadworks were taking place at this location, we believe it was right to continue to enforce so that traffic flow was not affected by inconsiderate drivers.
“Nevertheless, the appeals process exists to allow drivers who are unhappy with PCNs to dispute them, and we will always gladly look at any cases brought before us so that we deliver on our commitment to treat drivers fairly.”
