Yesterday I said it was a privilege to look after our grandchildren,
and so it was, but after taking them to Southend Library I returned to the car
to find a traffic warden attaching a Penalty Charge Notice (PNC) to the
windscreen of my car. I queried why, and he told me I should not have parked
where there was a sign indicating that loading was prohibited between the times
stated. I replied that as I had lawfully displayed a Blue Badge (BB) for the
disabled children under my care I believed I was exempt from the double line
parking restriction. He gave no further explanation, but said I could appeal
against the charge.
After he left, another car parked next to mine and a
different warden appeared. She walked towards the car and the occupant
responded by driving away. The warden seemed to take no further action. I asked her
if she could explain the term, ‘No Loading’ as shown on the sign. She said that
where the sign is displayed in conjunction with single or double yellow markings
on the kerb below, no one is allowed to park. I hadn’t noticed the yellow markings until she
pointed them out. Having only seen the sign and the double yellow lines, I
thought I was allowed to park there when displaying the BB.
I have subsequently looked at the Highway Code where there
is nothing about waivers for holders of the BB. The only reference I have found
on the Internet regarding parking by BB holders is in a PDF produced by Direct
Gov. (See link below) Only there is it clearly explained that BB holders are
not exempt from that particular ‘no parking’ rule.
I have appealed, but it very much looks as though I shall
have to cough up the fine of £35.00. Ignorance does not excuse one from the
law.
Links
Highway Code
On-street parking control signs and road markings
*Blue Badge Scheme: rights and responsibilities England
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