TRAFFIC FINES: DRIVERS HAIL PAYBACK TIME

Published: 21 January, 2011
EXCLUSIVE by JOSH LOEB

CAMPAIGNERS have demanded that City Hall refunds tens of thousands of pounds to drivers after the council admitted some of Westminster’s road signs are unclear. 

The admission, by the council’s transport chief Martin Low, was hailed as a victory by the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association and motorbike activists – the No To Mob – who are angry at “unfair” fines.

Mr Low said signs in Lower James Street and Sherwood Street, Soho, were “not as clear as they should be” and the council was reviewing them. He added: “We have suspended moving traffic enforcement on this particular crossroads.”

The admission paves the way for hundreds of motorists to claim back money paid to the council. In December alone, 397 penalty charge notices (fines of £60) were issued to drivers who failed to turn left from Lower James Street into Brewer Street but drove straight across into Sherwood Street instead.

Bruce Argue, from the No To Mob, said: “There is a very strong case for them to refund the money. What has happened in the past is that often the council has said that when someone pays a fine, that is an admission of guilt; but you can’t be guilty of an offence that does not exist, regardless of whether you admit to it or not.”

Stuart Pessok, managing editor of the LTDA’s newspaper TAXI, said some cabbies had been fined £60 a time while driving down Lower James Street.

Traffic enforcement could soon be suspended at other locations in Westminster such as Rupert Street, off Shaftesbury Avenue, where the LTDA says signage has similar faults.

Westminter Labour group leader Paul Dimoldenberg said the council was exploiting motorists as “cash cows”.

He said: “Westminster’s parking operation is one financial blunder after another. Over recent years Westminster’s parking operation has lost millions of pounds and this is just another example of the way in which the council manages its finances. I will be calling for an inquiry into why this has happened and assurances that there will be no more of these financial blunders.”

The No To Mob has achieved minor fame locally for colourful campaigns against charges for bikers and car drivers.

Last month activists from the group attended a City Hall parking scrutiny meeting wearing masks from the film V for Vendetta, a film about an uprising against a totalitarian authority (to which the campaigners compare Westminster City Council).

They also organise regular “hunts” of CCTV camera cars used to enforce motoring rules and use YouTube to release short films criticising council policy.

The council would not comment on the level of fines but Mr Low, its commissioner for transportation, said: “We work hard to ensure our roads have clear and relevant signs and markings and I’d like to thank Westminster’s enthusiastic local parking campaigners for assisting us by bringing this matter to our attention. We acknowledge the road signs at this location are not as clear as they should be and we are currently reviewing them. We have suspended moving traffic enforcement on this particular crossroads.” 

Bruce Argue, from the No To Mob, said: “There is a very strong case for them to refund the money. What has happened in the past is that often the council has said that when someone pays a fine, that is an admission of guilt; but you can’t be guilty of an offence that does not exist, regardless of whether you admit to it or not.”

Stuart Pessok, managing editor of the LTDA’s newspaper TAXI, said some cabbies had been fined £60 a time while driving in Lower James Street.

Enforcement could soon be suspended at other locations, such as Rupert Street, off Shaftesbury Avenue, where the LTDA says signage is also faulty.

Westminster Labour group leader Paul Dimoldenberg said the council was exploiting motorists as “cash cows”.

He said: “Westminster’s parking operation is one financial blunder after another. Over recent years Westminster’s parking operation has lost millions of pounds and this is just another example of the way in which the council manages its finances. I will be calling for an inquiry into why this has happened and assurances that there will be no more of these financial blunders.”

The council would not comment on the level of fines but Mr Low, its commissioner for transportation, said: “I’d like to thank Westminster’s enthusiastic local parking campaigners for assisting us by bringing this matter to our attention. We acknowledge the road signs at this location are not as clear as they should be and we are currently reviewing them.”