Bedford Driving Lessons

Parking and bus lane fines worth millions of pounds could have to be refunded by councils using mobile CCTV vans. As many as 24 local authorities face potential claims from motorists after a successful challenge to a ticket by a driver in Richmond-upon-Thames, west London. Nigel Wise contested a ticket issued by a mobile unit claiming that the device had not been formally approved by the Department for Transport. His appeal was upheld by the Parking and Traffic Appeals Service and the council also agreed to pay Mr Wise £50 costs. Richmond Council alone estimates that its liability could be as high as £1.05 million if it refunds an estimated 20,000 parking tickets issued between 2009 and 2011. Proposals to refund the money, drawn up by Lord True, Richmond’s leader, will be considered by the council next month. But in its own trade journal, Parking News, the industry estimates that as many as 24 councils could find themselves in the same position as Richmond. The mobile CCTV units which use cameras fitted to a periscope are normally found on Smart cars.  More