Parking Tickets - 5 Mins Grace?

Question

I keep telling my daughter that yellow line's aren't optional (lol) but did think that traffic wardens had to make certain that you'd actually parked before issuing a ticket which is why I've seen them note a car and come back and book it a few minutes later.

Is this right or wrong? is there some kind of regulation?

I'm not looking for anyone's views on whether it's ok to park on yellow lines, I have views of my own. Just out of fairness is there a rule or not?

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Answer 1

There is no 5 minute grace rule.  A parking restriction is a parking restriction period.

The only exclusions that I can think of off the top of my head (there will be more if I look into it further) are a vehicle delivering/collecting large sums of money and I don't mean someone going to an ATM who can't be bothered to park a few feet further away, I'm talking about security vans or shop staff delivering takings.  Disabled badge holders, broken down vehicles, people picking up disabled people etc etc.

These are however at the discretion of the parking warden who can issue the ticket if they see fit.

Most people I stop for it use the 'I was just' excuse. 'I was just waiting for my mate, picking someone up, answering the phone, making a call, using the ATM, going to the shop etc etc.  Then there's the 'I'm not from round here' excuse.

The best one I've ever heard though was 'We're from Birmingham' they obviously don't have double yellow lines of copies of the highway code in Birmingham! : )

Answer 2

Now a days, municipalities are going to nickel and dime us to death. I have seen that before in South FL and while there might have been some "grace" period before  not anymore.

Answer 3

Some people just want you to pay, the city and the Dr (your blood pressure goes up). Its foolish.

Answer 4

Certain yellow lines have parking for unloading permitted. There is no five minutes grace period though, depends on the traffic warden.

Answer 5

I think they can use disgression but it is not compulsory.

It also depends on whether there are lines up onto the pavement, one means that you can drop people off but not stop, up to three that means no stopping there full stop.

Answer 6

no, you can not park on them, some wardens might give you five mins but they dont have to

Answer 7

I think they are supposed to wait 5 minutes before clamping or towing a car but many don't. The five minutes grace is probably operated by around 20% of traffic wardens.

Answer 8

No grace allowed unless unloading and in some areasa not even that . Yoi can stop to let a passenger get out or board immediiaely but that is it