Teh One Who Knocks
09-12-2014, 11:25 AM
The Lincolnshire Echo
http://i.imgur.com/dcUNLv9.jpg
A Lincolnshire driver has racked up almost £14,000 of parking debts after ignoring more than 140 tickets.
Scampton man David Lee's bill is one of the highest ever recorded in the UK – and was built up after he repeatedly broke rules, often by parking in disabled spaces.
He has already been served with four county court judgments totalling more than £3,000 by Leeds-based firm UK Car Park Solutions.
Now the firm intends to issue a further £10,000 worth of charges before the courts, as well as costs.
It comes after the motorist was served with more than 140 tickets across Lincoln's car parks in just over a year.
The total bill is higher than that racked up by footballer Mario Balotelli, who was hit with nearly £10,000 in parking fines.
Mr Lee's vehicle, a Ford Mondeo, was often ticketed for being parked across disabled bays.
Unpaid and damaged parking tickets were also left on the car's dashboard, with a notice labelling the Leeds firm as "UK Car Park Scammers" and another claiming that the charges were unenforceable.
Steve Hall, UKCPS legal manager, said: "This is one of the highest parking charge debts to be served on a single motorist in the UK for parking on private land.
"Four of the undefended county court judgements amount to £3,265, with an additional £10,000 still to be issued. The vehicle was often parked across more than one bay. On many occasions, the charges were for parking out of marked bays and without authority.
"The vehicle dashboard was clearly visible for all passing people to see, scattered with unpaid parking tickets.
"UKCPS have had letters returned to us by Mr Lee after being cut up into small pieces.
"Staff have reconstructed the relevant section of the pages to discover the parking charge numbers referred back to the vehicle."
Mr Lee, of Rutland Way, finally attended Lincoln County Court earlier this month.
However, UKCPS say they have yet to receive any money from Mr Lee who, despite attempts by the Echo to contact him, remained unavailable for comment.
Despite many motorists believing that UKCPS has no powers to enforce the charges, once their contractual warning signs are up and an agreement signed with the landowner or their agent, parking charge notices can be issued.
By parking on land that UKCPS patrols, drivers enter into a contract. The firm is entitled to pursue the driver and, in certain circumstances, the registered keeper of the vehicle.
Motorists do have a legal right of appeal and this information is included in the parking charge notice.
A spokeswoman for the BPA said: "UKCPS are a member of our organisation and operate under our code of practice.
"They have every right to take people to court."
Beverly Blenkinsop, vice- chairman of the Hilt Disability Foundation (Lincs) Ltd, said: "Disabled parking bays are for the disabled."
http://i.imgur.com/dcUNLv9.jpg
A Lincolnshire driver has racked up almost £14,000 of parking debts after ignoring more than 140 tickets.
Scampton man David Lee's bill is one of the highest ever recorded in the UK – and was built up after he repeatedly broke rules, often by parking in disabled spaces.
He has already been served with four county court judgments totalling more than £3,000 by Leeds-based firm UK Car Park Solutions.
Now the firm intends to issue a further £10,000 worth of charges before the courts, as well as costs.
It comes after the motorist was served with more than 140 tickets across Lincoln's car parks in just over a year.
The total bill is higher than that racked up by footballer Mario Balotelli, who was hit with nearly £10,000 in parking fines.
Mr Lee's vehicle, a Ford Mondeo, was often ticketed for being parked across disabled bays.
Unpaid and damaged parking tickets were also left on the car's dashboard, with a notice labelling the Leeds firm as "UK Car Park Scammers" and another claiming that the charges were unenforceable.
Steve Hall, UKCPS legal manager, said: "This is one of the highest parking charge debts to be served on a single motorist in the UK for parking on private land.
"Four of the undefended county court judgements amount to £3,265, with an additional £10,000 still to be issued. The vehicle was often parked across more than one bay. On many occasions, the charges were for parking out of marked bays and without authority.
"The vehicle dashboard was clearly visible for all passing people to see, scattered with unpaid parking tickets.
"UKCPS have had letters returned to us by Mr Lee after being cut up into small pieces.
"Staff have reconstructed the relevant section of the pages to discover the parking charge numbers referred back to the vehicle."
Mr Lee, of Rutland Way, finally attended Lincoln County Court earlier this month.
However, UKCPS say they have yet to receive any money from Mr Lee who, despite attempts by the Echo to contact him, remained unavailable for comment.
Despite many motorists believing that UKCPS has no powers to enforce the charges, once their contractual warning signs are up and an agreement signed with the landowner or their agent, parking charge notices can be issued.
By parking on land that UKCPS patrols, drivers enter into a contract. The firm is entitled to pursue the driver and, in certain circumstances, the registered keeper of the vehicle.
Motorists do have a legal right of appeal and this information is included in the parking charge notice.
A spokeswoman for the BPA said: "UKCPS are a member of our organisation and operate under our code of practice.
"They have every right to take people to court."
Beverly Blenkinsop, vice- chairman of the Hilt Disability Foundation (Lincs) Ltd, said: "Disabled parking bays are for the disabled."