kford

Some definitions of the word 'chav', just to keep you bikering: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=chav

Muzzle them.

They're a great idea. Wandsworth use them everywhere.

Which bars, sean? A workmate just had his card cloned at EasyJet's online booking centre. Took 2k while he was on hols.

Wasn't there an old gas lamp stump embedded in the middle of the flowers? Visible here: http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/vale/lordship_lane_roundabout.jpg

giggirl Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I'm so glad I don't have a car anymore. Don't worry - they have other ways of watching you in the pipeline http://money.cnn.com/2004/08/05/commentary/ontechnology/rfid/

Sub-human scum, to paraphrase Alan Partridge.

Just talking about this at lunch - a mate had his Golf clamped and removed while on holiday for a parking fine incurred by someone who'd cloned his number plates. By the time he'd got back, his ?12k car had been auctioned off for ?2k and he said he had no recourse. Someone else at the same lunch received a parking fine via CCTV outside their house in Camden (of course), the day after their parking permit ran out. The same person then had the car stolen from the same spot a week later, yet Camden would not allow the incriminating footage from the CCTV to be used to identify the thieves, citing the Data Protection Act. This shady practice has been bubbling under for years, and we're all responsible for letting it go on.

Wrens - not too rare, often heard rather than seen. Expect to see more of 'em now the winters are getting milder.

This is why this the spread of CCTV enforcement is wrong, because often you won't have realised your error, for example: if you stop to read the restrictions on the sign in a CCTV zone, you'll get done; likewise, if you pause to look at a map, or drop off an elderly relative at the tube station, as I did once, you'll get done and you won't know until the fine arrives at your door, or not, in Ratpack's case. And they can't read disabled badges, so you're presumed guilty until you present your credentials to the council, or bailiffs. CPZ, anyone?

This would be a drainage solution, but wouldn't put off the taxman, unfortunately: http://www.resourceventure.org/green-your-business/green-building/turfgrid.jpg

Labour's class war bubbles to the surface once again.

Yes, a motorbike; parked on the street; yes, it's been nicked, but found by resourceful local police. It had a heavy chain on it too. Lock-2-Lock - good idea. I do it in the west end whenever I can. Using a cover is a good idea - it puts off the passing magpies.

BJL, they do, we do, but even the most careful driver will find themselves fined, not necessarily around here, where it's reletively lax, but definitely in Westminster or Camden. Apologies to seanmlow :) And mark, if their finances were in order, they wouldn't have to rely on people's genuine mistakes to make up their shortfall. Don't believe the hype, my man. If you can show me any example of highway improvements from your list, apart from the TfL-funded Walworth Road scheme, that Southwark have provided, then I'd like to hear of them.

And sean and co., councils really do see parking fines as revenue. They've been rumbled again and again, with scams such as paying incentives to PAs (Parking Attendants) and operating companies, like APCOA. You're naive to think that it's all about 'parking solutions'. I've worked with TfL who were secretly shocked at the cavalier behaviour of some local authorities regarding PCNs (although TfL seemed to operate their bus lane and Red Route patrols fairly). PAs in Kensington & Chelsea were even specially instructed to target BT vans, as BT employed someone especially to pay the fines; strangely, they warned the same PAs to leave Cable & Wireless/NTL vans alone. Bonkers.

Shit! That's appalling, and heavy-handed. Where are they when the gangs of youths climb aboard the back of the 36 bendy-bus, with no intention of swiping their card? She sounds like the perfect collar - female, non-confrontional, willing to pay eventually, without hassle or arrest or court. She should've driven.

On the subject of this particular thread, you're possibly right bn5 - but the general rants here are about the heavy-handed tactics employed by councils in their pursuit of fines to boost their coffers.

My figures were from last week: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7291810.stm The complaints are about the unfair victimisation of motorists who know the rules, but being human, occasionally make errors when parking yet are given draconian punishments way out of line with the 'crime'.

Sean, - read ratpack's email again. That's what it's like if you drive in London, even very occasionally, like I do. Even the most careful motorist will get caught out. You say you don't anymore, so you can't really comment. By the way, plenty of people 'forget' to pay their TfL fares without recompense - figures out last week suggest that fare-dodging accounts for a whopping ?52.3m lost in 2007, including ?6.4m on bloody bendy buses alone. Why not go after them? Fine them ?120, it's a more direct theft of money that would otherwise be used to expand transport in London. Oh, no, that would be too hard - these people are too hard to track down, not wearing number plates and being registered to DVLA and all that. And pounds is on the money, yet again. Money from council parking fines - TfL bus lane and Red Route patrols aside - fills a huge gap in the council's budget. It's easy money, taken from soft targets who pay without complaint, generally without the need for police or courts or restraint. Ker-ching.

A taste of things to come, when the Parking Tax kicks in. There's no excuse for parking in an operating bus lane, but most fines are for genuine mistakes like getting late back to the meter. After all, we all know the rules. Just to put it in context, someone on one of those 'Cops with Cameras' shows the other night got fined ?120 for driving without insurance, MOT and while disqualified. And they managed to assault the copper too. Fair, eh?

Take the plate off, or cover it.

And, important debate that it is, it has nothing directly to do with ED. Whereas my brown bin has ;-)

Yes - lived on the Camberwell New Road, so had to turn the TV up to hear them remarking about it.

It did hit Lycott - here is the damage: http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/9890/3227663nv9.th.jpg

falcao Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Sounds like it's now become a Has Bin. Oof! That's - ahem - rubbish. Thanks, Rolo, replacement on its way hopefully.