Parking Meters - Time Allowed To Obtain Change?

Question

I had to go to Sutton last Friday and on arrival found a suitable parking space on road.
Having no change I went to teh bar I was going to do work in and changed a £5 note for £1 coins
On arriving back at my car the warden was placing a ticket on the windscreen and when i explained that I had just gone for change he responded with a 'no you haven't you just want to get off' and carried on photographong my vehicle.
I was under the impression that a reasonable time had to be allowed by wardens for this type of activity and seem to remember reading that 5 mins was deemed reasonable with 5 mins allowed for each hour of parking purchased at the end of the period for over staying the time paid for.
Any one know the law on this point?
I still bought a ticket and then did the job I had arrived to do.

Answer 1

As far as I am aware you are not allowed time to get change, you are supposed to have it on you when you park. Try and appeal, especially if the warden was rude as I got off one once because the warden swore at me, but they will probably come back with "you are supposed to have change before you park".

Answer 2

I had this same problem with Hastings parking people. I parked had to go and get change, but when I got back there was a ticket. I appealed but was told that because I did not get back within 5mins ( i was 4mins late ) that was an excessive time to go and get change. What really pi**ed me off was this was on a motorbike and I explained that I had to get undressed before I could even get to my wallet to find some change, but no matter they have you by the b*lls if you don't pay by a certain time the fine is the full £80 , so if you only want to lose £30 you have to pay up. Money grabbing ba*tards

Answer 3

My Dad used to work in a parking shop, and they've heard every excuse going. Appeal it - because they've heard so much rubbish they know when someone is genuine. If you kept the ticket you bought send them a photocopy (keep the origianl as proof), and if it happens again, it can be worth taking photos when you leave your parking space to prove that you were there for that length of time.

I don't know the law, but you should be allowed about 15 mins - that's what you get on NCP ticket machines. If you're in doubt, call the Citizens' Advice Bureau who are free and really helpful. Their number will be in your phone book or on their website.

Answer 4

So, argue your case in traffic court. Most traffic wardens are not geniuses, and may not know the law as well as they think they do. If you want to spend the time and effort of researching the law and find you really do have a grace period before a ticket can be issued, then go for it!

Answer 5

Article in Daily Telegraph 8 may....Parking enforcers expected to issue 100 tickets per hour. Always have the change ready or find a pay on exit place. Good Luck

Answer 6

you have no time.
You need to have the correct change with you before you travel.
I have been done whilst changing a tenner and the warden said that i should have got change before i travelled. He agreed it was a bad ruling but it was so in order that there was no room for fudge factors-(It took 10 minutes in the queue to get the change etc)

Answer 7

Appeal i thought they had to give you a few minutes did you take a picture of the meter to prove you did pay as that should corispond with the ticket he issued as in a few minutes would anyone in the cafe remember you vouch for you.

Answer 8

No time is allowed for collecting change for a parking meter.

Traffic wardens are all Nazis.

Answer 9

Appeal, it's always worth a try. Send the ticket with your appeal, explaining all the circumstances. If necessary appeal again, if they refuse you first time. This has happened to me. I persisted, and won on second appeal.

Answer 10

Think you normally get 5mins grace, thats it.

Appeal if you can prove you were not there longer than this