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Another fine mess, says boss
Page 8
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Emma Penny reports on a firm that's taking on the ticket-happy traffic wardens THE BOSS OF A South London firm is calling for truck companies to take action against parking fines by sending councils a bill for £50 for admininstration costs when they receive a parking ticket.
Ray Dickson, managing director of Croydon-based F Dickson Transport says he's had enough of traffic wardens ticketing his trucks with little regard for common sense.
He says that his company, whose 34 trucks spend about 50% of their time running into central London, collects fines worth £250-300 a week. Dickson insists the problem is worsening as traffic wardens fail to use their common sense in dealing with trucks.
The final straw came last weekend as three of the firm's trucks were reversing slowly down the Mall. putting out crowd barriers for President Bush's visit to London.
Dickson explains: The traffic warden gave each truck a ticket. When the drivers told him they were actually moving he said they weren't moving fast enough! Even the Met Police, who were with us, couldn't dissuade him from issuing the tickets.
"There's just no common sense being used," he adds. "The number of tickets we're getting has jumped alarmingly. While we probably manage about 50% on appeal, it takes a long time. One evening I sent 10 letters of appeal to five or six councils," Dickson says. "Now I've decided to send them a bill for £50 for each ticket, too and it'll double if it's not paid within 28 days. I think all truck operators should do the same."
A Westminster council spokesman says it has no comment" to make on Dickson's £50 charge plans, but does add that the operator would "be out on his own on that one".
However, the council has cancelled the three tickets issued at the weekend, and has also apologised to Dickson. The spokesman says: "The council has reiterated to its contractor that parking attendants need to heed the direction of the police when carrying out their duties."