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       #Post#: 21439--------------------------------------------------
       Open call for evidence Restricting the generation of surplus
       funds from traffic contraventions
   DIR By: Fluffykins
       Date: May 3, 2024, 9:36 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Has anyone seen this?
  HTML https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/restricting-the-generation-of-surplus-funds-from-traffic-contraventions
  HTML https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/restricting-the-generation-of-surplus-funds-from-traffic-contraventions
       #Post#: 21526--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Open call for evidence Restricting the generation of surplus
       funds from traffic contraventions
   DIR By: roythebus
       Date: May 4, 2024, 4:40 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Yep, done mine yesterday quoting the Harwood Road/New Kings road
       SW6 YBJ as making several millions for the council.
       #Post#: 21575--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Open call for evidence Restricting the generation of surplus
       funds from traffic contraventions
   DIR By: Hippocrates
       Date: May 4, 2024, 4:20 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       I will do mine tomorrow and publish it if ok to do so.
       #Post#: 22043--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Open call for evidence Restricting the generation of surplus
       funds from traffic contraventions
   DIR By: Hippocrates
       Date: May 10, 2024, 6:18 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Just a thought: would it not be a good idea if, accidentally,
       some members made the same points so that this may add weight?
       #Post#: 22135--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Open call for evidence Restricting the generation of surplus
       funds from traffic contraventions
   DIR By: ivanleo
       Date: May 11, 2024, 5:58 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       --- Quote from: Hippocrates link ---
       >
       > Just a thought: would it not be a good idea if, accidentally,
       some members made the same points so that this may add weight?
       >
       --- End Quote ---
       If the answers appear to come from a group or campaign, they
       hold less weight rather than more. So everybody should come up
       with their own wording, the worst approach would be to come up
       with a template answer as templated responses would be given
       very little weight indeed.
       #Post#: 22136--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Open call for evidence Restricting the generation of surplus
       funds from traffic contraventions
   DIR By: Hippocrates
       Date: May 11, 2024, 6:23 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       1. Signage is inadequate and the law should incorporate Bus Lane
       legislation Para 7(6) of Schedule 1 so that authors of witness
       statements are required to attend to be cross-examined.
       2. The law has been relaxed in 2016 to allow these boxes to be
       enforced willy-nilly.  There should be warning signage in place.
       3. Bus lane enforcement has been "illegal" from 2005 for 18
       years as councils have not had the correct VCA certificates for
       their evidence to be admissible at the Tribunal.
       4. Parking enforcement, in situ and by camera, is similarly
       unfair as regulations need to be homogenised as per 1 above.
       Staff are incompetent; the law is not easily understood by
       councils and motorists, the latter are affected mostly and just
       pay up as they are frightened to lose the discount. Cost
       decisions should be made much easier against councils who
       knowingly flout the rules. Some press people all the way to the
       Tribunal but then do not contest or adduce any evidence. In
       general, the laws are far too complicated and lack
       homogenisation.
       Simply councils are targeting motorists to fund their
       incompetence re management of their finances.  Motorists are
       soft targets.
       The law needs to be tightened in terms of fining council staff
       who knowingly lie in their evidence or, indeed, are so
       incompetent so as to make wholly wrong statements of truth.
       Fit for purpose advance warning signage
       Ditto plus signs erected on posts in advance
       Proper advanced signage and de minimis rule
       Less complicated signage.
       #Post#: 22137--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Open call for evidence Restricting the generation of surplus
       funds from traffic contraventions
   DIR By: ivanleo
       Date: May 11, 2024, 6:31 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Costs should follow the event, that would solve a lot of
       problems.
       #Post#: 22138--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Open call for evidence Restricting the generation of surplus
       funds from traffic contraventions
   DIR By: DWMB2
       Date: May 11, 2024, 6:38 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       A middle ground that I've seen deployed in the past, that could
       work here, is to identify some key themes that members may wish
       to ensure they cover, in their own words, in the submission
       (alongside any individual points they want to raise).
       This avoids the answers appearing template, and thus afforded
       little value, whilst ensuring a number of responses touching on
       the same themes.
       #Post#: 22139--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Open call for evidence Restricting the generation of surplus
       funds from traffic contraventions
   DIR By: Hippocrates
       Date: May 11, 2024, 6:56 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       I "worked" with a BBC TV reporter about a decade ago who
       "illegally" attached impromptu warning signs on a post at a
       famous YBJ in Hammersmith and Fulham and he saw a remarkably
       increased rate of compliance!  H and F were not too happy
       needless to say - especially about the signs!
       #Post#: 22142--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Open call for evidence Restricting the generation of surplus
       funds from traffic contraventions
   DIR By: guest17
       Date: May 11, 2024, 9:45 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       The Govt had the opportunity, when Parliament looked at the
       Tribunal system 4-5 years ago, to beef up the power of
       adjudicators and even appoint a parking/MTC "Tsar" to guard
       against the excesses of Enforcement Authorities.
       They didn't go down that route, largely because of the pitiful
       mantra that each case is unique and we are not governed by
       precedent.
       If the bus lane at Clapham Park Road records 27000
       contraventions a year I would say that the Chief Adjudicator was
       honour bound to convene a "Panel" and examine the lines and
       signs. Likewise the other Lambeth cash cows (you know what they
       are). She/He didn't probably because of the resultant political
       fallout.
       Eric Pickles MP tried to instigate a review mechanism via
       e-Petitions (27000 signatories as above?) but that seems to have
       fallen on stony ground.
       With Councils going bust I doubt any politician will put their
       name to depriving Lambeth and other "serial offenders"of such
       major income whether this be classed as unjust enrichment or
       not.
       This current exercise will be kicked into the long grass before
       the Summer is out. Plus the civil servant who came up with this
       idea will be seconded to the British Antarctic Survey where they
       will spend the next 18 months freezing their extremities off.
       Mike
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