Buddle Findlay prosecutes parking ticket.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Just kind of on this, I cannot believe there hasnt been blood in the streets over the gummint sacking ECan and appointing its attack drone Bazely. Just so a bunch of greedy fucking corporate farmers can rape our land, rivers and high country more effectively. Awesome.

[Max Preload]

Yes the council should just roll over and take it everytime someone finds some obscure little loophole that they think can get them off a ticket, that would work....Plus petty little bureaucrats probably love this anal-retentive overanaylsis of rules and regulations.

So you think the citizen should just roll over? How about if both parties don't get it absolutely perfect it's invalid? That would be fair.

The Councils have never rolled over on my ones that I've contested, because I'm RIGHT (at least they haven't initially - it takes a few repeat letters for it to sink in, which I enjoy writing, anyway. Council workers are notoriously thick).

I just don't see the point of investing so much time and effort into something so pathetically trivial as a 40 dollar parking ticket. If it was an actual injustice or something that was grossly unfair I could imagine it, but crap like this just clogs up the courts, costs us the taxpayer a shit load of money and all for someones petty personal agenda.

Here's the injustice: You infringed a regulation. The penalty: $40. They infringed a regulation. The penalty: Nothing.

Surely if the Council is to administer the law it should operate within the law itself?

That's crazy talk! Imagine holding them to the same standard!

Uh, the council workers get paid anyway, as does whichever junior litigation solicitor at BF. they welcome the change to their otherwise dull day: as will the Judge (makes a change from sentencing dropkicks, rapists and kiddy fiddlers, right?). So the only person losing out is our hero who has the stress of a Court date, takes time off work, and then probably will still lose.

Whatever floats your boat, dude, but sometimes shit is not worth getting your panties in a bunch over. Just saying.

It's still a waste of OUR money and it's always worth it. It'll cost much more in the long run if you DON'T contest them.

[Pixie]

I just don't see the point of investing so much time and effort into something so pathetically trivial as a 40 dollar parking ticket. If it was an actual injustice or something that was grossly unfair I could imagine it, but crap like this just clogs up the courts, costs us the taxpayer a shit load of money and all for someones petty personal agenda.

You can probably get a blow job for $40,'tis no bagatelle

[HenryDorsetCase]

You can probably get a blow job for $40,'tis no bagatelle

$40 is cheap. the last one cost me half my house and my savings....

[Toaster]

Today I am parked in Bob Parkers car park and Ive left a big Cleveland Steamer on his desk.

You should run for Mayor! Love your work!

[davereid]

I just don't see the point of investing so much time and effort into something so pathetically trivial as a 40 dollar parking ticket...... crap like this just clogs up the courts, costs us the taxpayer a shit load of money....

That may be exactly the reason we should fight all tickets.

Its my view, that the invention of the ticket changed society in a massive, and harmful way.

Before the ticket was invented, the law was written and enforced to deal with real issues. But the ticket gave the small minded council or government official a economic method of creating hundreds, even thousands of new offences, that were never going to be worth having a law about if the courts were involved.

Now we are besieged with fines, for everything imaginable. Our weapon is to dispute each and every one, every time.

Even if we lose, we win.

[red mermaid]

The reason they (Christchurch CC) have probably engaged such a high profile firm could be several;

1. The are the councils retained company and on a retainer.

2. If as you say it is going to be heard in the High Court then the case may sit on a point of law with serious consequences for case law. To get a wrong decision because the council did not put all of there submissions in the strongest possible legal terms could have serious consequences way beyond this case.

[ynot slow]

The tried and heard often from cop/warden "you have 28days to pay" annoys the shit out of me,you get 56 days,because after the first 28 days or so a computer printed invoice is sent and that says 28 days to pay.

What pissed me off with my last parking ticket for $12.00 was I never had a ticket on windscreen,(is good because you move the car,and stick it under wiper and most wardens think hehe got em,so no need to pay meter,good for an hour or so),and therefor didn't pay,and the "hard" copy wasn't sent hence it went to court and $30 fees applied,when ringing council was told ring justice dept re fines,they were sympathetic(pathetic)and suggested going to council filling out xyz form blah blah,so I paid it.

[breakaway]

jaykay, what are the exact circumstances under which this ticket was issued?

[jaykay]

There isn't much dispute about the ticket, truth be known I was delayed in the accountants sorting out a six figure sum owed by an ex (very ex) business partner.

The good news from the High Court is that the council were told in no uncertain terms to fix the dates on their Reminder Notices - as far as I am aware ALL Reminder Notices from ALL councils are wrong - and I didn't have to pay any costs. However I technically lost the appeal, leaving me having to pay the $40 ticket - and the council with a bill that I suspect may run into five figures.

I'm still not sure if I should be flattered or annoyed that the council went to such lengths to be told they were wrong - and they were only saved by a law that allows them to make mistakes and get away with it.

I have belatedly worked out a better defense, which may have succeeded - and if the council try and prosecute me for a phantom $12 ticket on a scooter it could get very interesting. I doubt the council will risk court again against me, perhaps they will work out that this latest ticket is actually a mistake - the scooter has NEVER been parked in that street, or anywhere near it.

Still, it was good fun - and the third time against the council in the High Court. I've never had to pay costs, they had to pay me $50 on one occasion.

Could anyone who gets a council Reminder Notice in the near future post back here to see if they are right or wrong.