Ok, continuing on from the old board , I've done my research into this now. It seems very unlikely that I'll have to pay anything. I've looked on moneysavingexpert now, and they agree with other advice I've read. Basically, it's the driver of the car that has broken a "contract" with the parking company, which they entered into when they parked there.

Now, they've written to me as I'm the registered keeper of the vehicle, but I'm not responsible for the ticket if I wasn't the driver, and I'm still not responsible even if I know who the driver was. I'm also not obliged to disclose this information if known, as it's up to them to prove guilt, and not for me to admit liability. This is the letter I've sent to them:

Dear Sir or Madam

I receieved a parking ticket issued on 26th May 2009, but I will not be paying your demand for payment as I was not the driver of the vehicle at the time in question. I am also under no obligation to disclose who was driving the car, so please go not contact me again with regards this matter.

Yours faithfully

.........

Hopefully, that will be the lsat I hear from them.

Morals went out the window when I received a £50 fine (if I pay in 14 days, £110 otherwise) for parking at a shopping centre, and then spending money at those very shops.

As TBC Ben brought this up in another thread, I thought I'd add the slight development recently. Had another letter through the other day with photos of my car arriving at and leaving the car park (too long distance to see who's in it), telling me I had 4 days to pay or my fine goes up from £50 to £110. This crossed with my letter though (received it the day after I finally got round to posting mine), and I haven't heard anything since then, although it's only been a couple of days.

Should check if the in-laws have heard anything as they sent off the same letter a few days before me. They haven't mentioned anything to me or Emily though, and I'm fairly sure they would have if they'd heard, so it's looking good I reckon.

Are you under any obligation to note the difference between a 'd' and a 'g'?

Hoping you didn't paste the original letter into this post: spelling mistakes in your complaints lack class!

Good luck either way.

I am not sure of the full circumstances into your problems Nath so please fill me in, but what usually happens with traffic offences is that if a fine is not paid within the set amount of time (ie 14 or 28 days) it goes up by 50%. if it is then not paid, a summons will be issued for court. if you don't disclose who is the driver, that is not a defence and so one may be found guilty as it is pretty much like saying 'no comment' in an interview. inference is drawn from one's silence.
however, if it is a civil claim from a private firm, the law may be slighty different, hence why I may need filling in on the full details of where and what circumstances etc

fair do's then. reckon you got away with it you lucky jammer!

Doesn't matter. I haven't said anywhere who the driver was. Anyway, I doubt you can use what's said on a message board forum in a court of law. Can they prove who "nathan8" is? Would they bother to waste their time trying to do so?

In a privately owned car park such as the one this ticket was issued in, the ticket is issued to the driver. Because of this, if they can't prove who was driving then they can't enforce the ticket. A council issued notice (what you'll get normally in Bristol/South Glos) is still a civil notice, it's just issued to the vehicle. Therefore, it would be tough luck if you weren't driving - it's your car that contravened the regulations so you're liable to pay it.


Next time just read the signs - it is the drivers responsibility to ensure there vehicle doesn't break the rules of the car park!!

So you are basically saying that Nathan needs to keep a better control over his wife?

I work in Lloyds Offices Bedminster right next to ASDA. Many people park their cars in the ASDA carpark where there is a maximum stay of 3 hours. At lunch time they either move their car into the Lloyds carpark if they have been lucky enough to get offered a space. or they move it to the Argos carpark. The people who run ASDA car park have cottoned onto this now and are threatening to hand out £65 fines to anybody caught doing this. They say that it is for ASDA Customers only and you will need to provide a receipt as proof of shopping in the store during your stay. I think that people will just go in the store before work now and buy a packet of chewing gum or a newspaper.