Please be gentle as I'm a newbie!
Briefly I received a PCN for parking on a single yellow line on a Sunday afternoon. Although there were residents parking bays with times of restrictions nearby I was not aware that these also applied to a SYL as, unknown to me, I was parked within a CPZ. I'd even driven up and down the road before parking looking for the SYL timeplates but all I found was a yellow weight limit parking restriction for coaches and lorries.
Having written to the local council pleading ignorance I received a reply rejecting my representations. This included a map showing the positions of all the CPZ signs within the Borough. To help paint a picture the point at which I passed the CPZ signs consists of 3 lanes going over a bridge in the same direction, two of which on the nearside are dual carriageway (30mph limit approaching a large shopping centre). The third lane on the right is a 24 hour bus and taxi lane the surface of which is clearly marked and painted red, for those vehicles turning right across the oncoming carriageway.
My gripe is:
1. The CPZ signage I passed is 1.2 miles from where I parked and there are no other CPZ signs on the most direct route I took.
2. The nearside CPZ sign I passed is obscured by a nightclub sign. I was driving in the nearside lane and the sign only becomes totally visible 21 metres before you pass it. (I took my life in my hands on several occasions doing walk by guesstimates!) I reckon that leaves me about 1.5 seconds to see the sign and read all the various parking restrictions whilst driving!
3. The offside CPZ sign is positioned in the bus lane, not between the outside lane of the dual carriageway and the bus lane but on an island between the bus lane and the oncoming carriageway. In fairness the sign is clear and unobstructed (assuming there's not a double decker bus beside it!) but I wasn't paying attention to road signs placed on the far side of a 24 hour bus and taxi lane.
I've already informed the council I intend to appeal whatever they decide. I will contend that it was unreasonable to expect me to have seen and read the CPZs given where they are positioned.
I knew nothing about CPZs until I got this ticket (1st one in about 10 years) but having done a bit of research I can't believe what councils are allowed to get away with, especially with regards to SYL in a CPZ.
It's legalised ambiguity imo!
I'd welcome any constructive comments/advice.