LEGAL HELP NEEDED

WILDECELT · Scooby Slapper Joined: 12 Jun 2004 Karma :

Hi all i was wondering if someone could give me some legal advice?
Today i received a parking ticket Evil or Very Mad

whilst visiting my sick father who only last week left Hospital.He phoned me to ask if i could drop by some painkillers after i finished work.
No problems got to where he lives (Central London) could find no where to park as all the bays as well as Motorcycle bays were full Confused

,the only option for me was to mount the kerb and park the bike near the railing outside his house.
I made sure the bike was not causing a obstruction on pavement and then covered the number plate with two bags to conceal it,so anyway went and saw my dad came out three minutes later to find a ticket on my bike Evil or Very Mad

now the only way the (Nazi )attendant could get to my reg was by removing the bags ,what i need to know please, is this legal for them to do?
As i was led to believe that they cannot touch your bike for any reason i also took pics
Any advice would be great Smile

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

They can get your reg no. off of your tax disc which must legally be displayed.
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Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

WILDECELT · Scooby Slapper Joined: 12 Jun 2004 Karma :

My disc was on dislay but due to slight water damage (got hit by a car in jan Sad

and cracked the glass) the reg is not very readable but the rest is Confused

it is ligit though runs out in october.
What i,m saying is that they physically removed the bags to read the reg.

WILDECELT · Scooby Slapper Joined: 12 Jun 2004 Karma :

Just noticed the other thread about parking on pavements Embarassed

strag · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Oct 2004 Karma :

I asked the same question to a traffic officer, this was the answer:

It is not illegal exactly, more of a 'wrong' search. Technically the cover is on the vehicle and therefore lifting the cover to see what is under it could constitute a search. Now what you have to look at is that most bikers would not mind having there bike checked provided that the cover was replaced in the same way. If riders started moaning about bike covers being lifted to check tax etc, then you may find that officers start using other powers and you end up with fines or the vehicle removed. Butterfly effect!

HTH
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carbon bling

tokarev · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Jan 2005 Karma :

Don't they have to stand by the offending vehicle for 5 minutes at least before they can issue a ticket. (They have to set a timer on their little computer thing). So if you were away for 3 mins then this is not allowed. The bastard must have been hiding round the corner watching you park with the timer going.

But there is no way for you to prove this so i don't think there is much you can do.