Parking Attendents

I see that the vexed issue of parking attendants has reached the higher echelons. Indeed, a committee of MPs is set to seek an overhaul of what is going on.

A committee of MPs is set to call for a major overhaul of the way parking regulations are enforced in the UK.

The Transport Select Committee report is expected to recommend a single national system governing traffic wardens and parking attendants.

And all because….

Some councils have been accused of treating parking enforcement as a money-making exercise.

Well bugger me sideways with a feather duster… I would never have figured that one out. This rampant abuse has been hitting the news on a fairly regular basis for several years. Westminster Council being one recently involved in a news story for being rather too keen to issue tickets.

All of this is a direct and foreseeable consequence of motivating people through “productivity” rather than clear guidelines on what offences should be prosecuted – or not, as the case may be. Indeed, so keen are these companies to line their pockets, that they will issue tickets even if the car concerned is displaying a valid payment ticket.

Step forward APCOA. A few weeks ago my wife left her car in Bristol Parkway railway station and bought a ticket from the machine. She displayed this on the dashboard and went to board her train. Upon returning, she discovered an extortion demand with menaces fixed penalty notice attached to her wind-screen. Naturally, we were livid. Bad enough that the parking was chargeable, given the price of rail tickets, but that the operatives are so incompetent that they either cannot or will not properly check for a valid ticket is adding insult to injury.

In line with my policy for dealing with incompetence and extortion (I refuse to enable either), we drafted a letter to the company. In it, we pointed out that the ticket had been paid for (we enclosed the relevant ticket) and that under no circumstances would we be paying the ransom demand “fine”, nor would we discuss the matter further. In short, an absolute refusal to co-operate. The letter was polite but perfunctory. 

Apart from my wife sending the wrong ticket, requiring a brief further exchange of correspondence (with the correct ticket), the assertive refusal to pay had the desired effect. I recall much the same being recounted by someone sharing his experience on “Grumpy Old Men”. In this instance, he had not parked neatly enough and one wheel was touching  the parking bay outline. For crying out loud! Only the petty official; the hard of thinking jobs-worth; could issue a ticket for such an “infringement”. This gentleman did as we did, he refused to pay. It takes nerve, to be fair, as these bullies will bring out the big guns, with each refusal bumping up the blackmail demand by a substantial amount. It is a tactic designed to intimidate and intimidate, it does. But, if you are right, then refusal is the only lesson they understand. Refuse, keep refusing and mean it. Be pugnacious. The “see you in court” sign-off at the bottom of a letter helps as it means “don’t bother writing anymore. If you have a case, proceed. If you don’t then go away”. It’s a technique I’ve used effectively several times over the years. Bullies only respond positively to assertiveness. Acquiescence to their demands is weakness and weakness is ruthlessly exploited. That is, after all, how the bastards make their profit.

So, going back to the news story, for a moment…

MPs are expected to ask for a national system of standards for privatised parking enforcement, with more councils being able to use their discretion when issuing tickets rather than rigidly sticking to the rules.

Well, yes, this sounds remarkably like common sense. I’m all for national standards. If these companies all followed the same guidelines, then you could, logically, expect the same treatment in Bristol as you would in London or anywhere else. Competition as a means of regulation of sharp practice is of limited use, given that they are effectively cartels. However… Given my dislike of the over powerful intervention of the state where it is not necessary, national guidelines and even regulation could be managed effectively by the industry without any state intervention. That is not likely to happen, though:

Our correspondent added that this was an important report because the government is planning to issue its own new guidance for parking in the next few weeks. 

Now, why do I see a fuck-up looming over the horizon complete with marching band, drum majorettes, dancing bears, banners and flags a-flyin’? Oh, and the clowns of course, we musn’t forget the clowns. :devil: