Successfully contesting an improperly issued parking ticket depends on your ability to gather evidence convincing enough to overturn it.

It is a myth that the Council takes a stupid approach to parking ticket appeals, and rarely defends them. In fact, records show that nearly 70% of appeals are upheld by councils across the UK.

But what evidence is required to successfully support a challenge against a parking ticket or ticket notice?

It largely depends on the reason it is being questioned.

The reasons can be broadly classified under the following headings.

• Incorrect lines and signs
• Upload/download in progress
• Meters/ticket machines out of order and valid permits or tickets displayed.
• vehicle position

The type of evidence required when contesting tickets under any of these categories has been explained under each category below.

Collection of wrong lines and signs ·Evidence

• Record a precise description of the nature of any defect. This could be a severely faded or broken yellow line, a defaced, faulty, or incorrect sign. ·
• Take a picture of the defect remembering the time and date of the picture.
• Always use a reference point on the street to identify the location of the defect. Choose an outside or opposite number to help identify the location. As the opposite number 20 or the exterior of the number 30. Can also be used for the name of a building, such as the exterior of Nando’s or the opposite of Burger King.
• If practical, collect witness statements from other members of the public in the immediate vicinity.
• Another useful technique is to ask any other nearby parking attendants to record the details of the alleged defect or incorrect signal or line and also record or record the complaint. Get the number of any law enforcement officer or parking attendant who records such evidence if he or she did not issue the ticket.
• The lines must be clear and legible and marked in accordance with the Traffic Signs and General Directions Regulations 2002 (TSRGD).
• All parking lots (except motorcycle parking lots) must be accompanied by vertical signs or time plates specifying the nature of the parking lot located in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Collection of evidence on defective meters and payment and display machines

• Record the machine numbers of the corresponding display and payment machine if a ticket was issued on a defective device.
• Check the time on the pay and display machine, which should be accurate. An inaccurate time on the machine would result in an inaccurate time recorded on the tickets it dispenses
• Ensure that the display and payment machines serving the bay were operating at the time of the violation. Parking at out-of-service display and pay machines is permitted as long as valid display and pay tickets are purchased at other nearby machines.
• If you dispute a ticket issued at an out-of-service meter, a photograph of the exact meter reading must be taken.
• If a pay-and-display ticket was purchased and displayed, but a parking ticket was issued, probably because the enforcement officer was unable to see the pay-and-display ticket, the motorist should keep it in a safe place and a copy (not the original). ) submitted as part of an appeal to the local authority.

Compilation of loading and unloading tests

• The most obvious and substantial proof of loading or unloading will be invoices, paperwork, etc. This must be date and time stamped and must clearly show the activity taking place during the period the parking ticket or fine notice was issued.
• While not conclusive, signed witness statements are also very helpful in proving that you were loading/unloading at the time of the violation.
• If there are signs allowing charging in place, record the position of these signs on the road using an appropriate exterior or opposite number and, if possible, take a photograph (time and date of sign).

Compilation of evidence on vehicle position

• Some of the more controversial violations tend to be those that relate to a vehicle’s exact position on the road: violation codes 61 and 62 dealing with curbside parking, codes 26 and 27 dealing with crossing and double parking and code 24 issued to vehicles parked outside the markings of a bay.
• Always take a photo. If you are disputing a violation applied to your vehicle for parking in an incorrect position, either on the sidewalk or on an intersection. Always take a dated and timed photo which should include key details including wheel position and vehicle registration.
• For a penalty applied for parking outside the bay markings, there must be some form of clear daylight between the wheels and the bay markings.
• A parking ticket issued for parking outside the bay markings cannot be issued outside of operation during all bay hours; check the vertical sign or time plate of the controlled parking zone.