Man given parking fine after ‘leaving ticket upside down’

A dad was left fuming when he returned to his car to find that he'd been given a parking fine... despite buying a ticket.

Chris Amery, from Prenton, Wirral, had taken his two young children to the World Museum in March last year, leaving his car at a pay and display spot.

However, when he got back to his motor on William Brown Street, he found a huge yellow ticket on his windscreen, ordering him to pay £50.

On closer inspection, the NHS worker realised that he had placed his ticket upside down when he left it in his car.

Speaking to the Liverpool Echo about the unfortunate series of events, the 42-year-old said he understood his error but doesn't think he should be fined for it.

Liverpool Echo

"Clearly this was an innocent mistake as the ticket I purchased was valid until 1.35pm and me and my two children returned to the car to drive home following our visit to the World Museum at around 1.20pm," said Chris.

"I accept that the ticket must have flipped over on the dashboard - presumably while shutting the car door at the same time as ensuring the roadside safety of my two young children (aged four and five at the time) - it was clearly not a deliberate act.

"Why would anyone with a valid parking ticket deliberately display it upside down?"

But while the dad says he can see why he received the ticket, he doesn't understand why Liverpool City Council were so persistent in their pursuit of his money, considering the circumstances.

In the end, Chris paid the fine because he was scared of getting an even bigger fine, which he may not be able to pay in the midst of the cost of living crisis.

He said: "I was taken aback that Liverpool City Council refused to overturn it and I'm confident that any sensible person would consider any 'contravention' here a technicality.

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"Throughout the council's appeals procedure, I repeatedly provided evidence that I had (and continue to retain) a valid pay and display ticket bought on the day.

"Yet contrary to the 3,000+ cases in which this resulted in a cancellation, Liverpool City Council repeatedly told me they could 'find no reason to exercise discretion favourably'.

"I have since raised this with my MP and lodged a formal complaint with the Council.

"I feel cheated. It's a matter of basic fairness. Why is my case being treated so differently to thousands of others?"

Liverpool City Council said there are other options for people like Chris.

"Anyone who receives a parking ticket can appeal to the council," said a spokesperson. "If they are unsuccessful they can take it to the independent Traffic Penalty Tribunal."