Disabled driver sent parking ticket because Wirral's spy car could not see blue badge

Liverpool Daily Post - by Carrie Catterall

A DISABLED driver was hit with a parking fine – because Wirral Council’s “spy car” could not see his blue badge.

The new Smart car, which does the job of a traffic warden, uses a camera to photograph vehicles parked illegally.

The owner of the car is then sent a fine through the post.

But the council last night apologised after sending tickets to a disabled driver who was displaying a blue badge.

The camera could not see onto the dashboard of his vehicle, so did not register he was parked legally.

John Cowley, 65, of Irby, has a blue badge because he drives for his wife Cheryl, an arthritis sufferer.

He received a ticket after his car was photographed and had to appeal.

The grandfather said: “The fact this camera did not see the blue badge on my dashboard was ridiculous.

“It means other disabled people and I could get tickets again and again for parking perfectly legally.

“Luckily I won the appeal, but the letter I received said I might not win it next time.”

Wirral Council has apologised to any blue badge holders who received a ticket.

A spokesman said it has implemented new procedures to ensure tickets are not issued when a badge exempts them from parking rules.
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© copyright . Reproduced under fair use for the dual purposes of comment and news reporting
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Wirral’s parking “spy car” to continue

Birkenhead News - by Liam Murphy

NEW rules are being introduced by council chiefs so they can continue using a controversial “spy car” to enforce parking laws.

The use of the Smart car, equipped with specialised CCTV camera equipment, was thrown into question after a landmark legal ruling last month.

Wirral Council had been using cameras set up in the vehicle to target illegal parking.

They photograph drivers who park wrongly and then send them a fine through the post.

Next week, the council’s audit committee will be advised of new procedures for using the vehicle.

Officials will have to put up notices in the street warning drivers the equipment is being operated in the area.

A council report said: “Before commencing enforcement, traffic signs will be erected either end of the enforcement location to advise motorists of the presence of the CCTV camera.

“This is in addition to the on-vehicle markings and the existing road markings and signs.”

Wallasey councillor Leah Fraser, Conservative spokeswoman on the audit committee, said: “The spy car was sneakily launched on an unsuspecting public without prior warning or publicity.

“If we want people to park more sensibly, it would be better if drivers knew the consequences beforehand and the spy car must be parked legally as well.”

Rachel Johnson, 34, who owns Bargain Booze off licence, in Victoria Road, New Brighton, received three £70 parking fines through the post in one week as a result of pictures taken by a “spy camera”.

But, after Ms Johnson took her case to a traffic penalty tribunal, it was ruled unless councils put up signs warning motorists the cars are being used, the tickets are invalid.

Ms Johnson’s ruling could open the floodgates for thousands of other appeals from motorists.

The periscope-mounted camera cars were first trialled in London at the beginning of 2007 before being rolled out across the UK.

It is estimated more than 30 councils now use Smart cars to supplement traffic wardens.

The council report added: “Wirral is currently one of a small number of authorities outside London with Secretary of State approval for CCTV parking enforcement”.

The vehicle has a mobile CCTV control room, including cameras, recording and playback equipment.



© copyright Birkenhead News. Reproduced under fair use for the dual purposes of comment and news reporting
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Mayor of Wirral apologises after his official car is spotted parked straddling double yellow lines - with pictures

Wirral Globe - by Justin Dunn

THE Mayor of Wirral Councillor Andrew Hodson has apologised after his car was spotted by a Globe reader parked on double yellow lines.

Wirral's first citizen - who presides over a council that employs a 'spy car' to issue tickets to errant motorists - had stopped off at an address in Old Bidston Road, Birkenhead, shortly before 2pm on Wednesday.

His official mayoral grey Jaguar - with the distinctive number plate WCM 1M - was seen by the Globe reader parked up, half on the pavement, straddling the double yellows, as pictured.

The Mayoress, Cllr Hodson's wife Kathy, was alone in the rear of the vehicle. The Mayor's chauffeur was standing nearby, while Cllr Hodson was inside a neighbouring business address.

The reader said: "For a council that hands out parking tickets like Smarties and employs a sneaky spy car to do its dirty work, this was just taking the Mick.

"The Mayor's supposed to set an example. But what would happen if any of us regular motorists copied this?"

Later, the Mayor and Mayoress were attending an event at a school for the blind in Birkenhead.

Today, Cllr Hodson apologised and told the Globe: "It was obviously a bad error of judgement. It should not have happened.

"I have asked my driver to take more care in future and observe the parking restrictions in any place that we visit."

It's understood the Mayor has had "strong words" with his chauffeur.

A spokeswoman for Wirral Council said: "However much we would like to, it is simply illegal for the council to issue a parking ticket based upon a photograph that hasn't been provided by a parking enforcement officer.

"The council takes its obligations to comply with parking regulations extremely seriously.

"Staff and elected members will be treated no differently to any members of the public.

"The driver has been instructed to ensure that this incident is not repeated and has assured us that it will never happen again."

The council's highways boss Dave Green, director of technical services, told the Globe: "A ticket can only be issued if an offence has been observed by a civil enforcement officer or an approved device, such as the Smart car.

"The Mayor and elected members are treated equally as any member of the public, and we have indeed ticketed the Mayor's car in the past.

"This area concerned does not have the surveillance car operating because it is patrolled by civil enforcement officers.

"If residents witness repeated examples of bad parking they can always contact us to send out an officer to their area."

© copyright Wirral Globe. Reproduced under fair use for the dual purposes of comment and news reporting