Traffic warden on double yellow line

A YOUNG driver slapped with a fine while delivering his grandmother’s shopping, says the council did not follow its own parking rules.

Rylan Williams, 19, says he received a £70 parking fine from a ‘dangerously parked’ CCTV car, while he stopped on double yellow lines in John Street, Rochester to drop off groceries to his 88-year-old nan.

Rylan, of Lower Rainham Road, said: “I could not park anywhere. I popped on to the yellow lines. I thought I was ok because I was unloading.”

Medway Council’s parking policy says that vehicles parked in residential areas should be subject to a two-minute observation period before they are issued with a ticket. Rylan, an IT Technician at Rochester Grammar School, claims he was not longer than two minutes and that CCTV car was not there when he parked.

“I did not stick around for long because I was heading to work,” he said.

Responding to Rylan’s Penalty Charge Notice, a Medway Council spokesman said: “CCTV footage has been reviewed and the vehicle was observed parked on double yellow lines for over two minutes and there was no sign of loading or unloading taking place.”

They said any motorist who feels they have been unfairly given a parking ticket should use the council’s appeals service, which Rylan intends to do. The council promises to fully investigate any complaint.

Rylan, who will be contesting the ticket, said: “My nan was a bit concerned. I was helping her out, so she felt a little responsible.

“She has a blue badge but I cannot use that, so I had to stop on the double yellow lines.”

Rylan said he saw the council CCTV car when he came out of his grandmother’s house and tried to explain his parking to the enforcement officer. To add insult to injury, the CCTV car, he said, was parked illegally.

He said: “It was parked on double yellow lines and it was blocking a busy junction.

“It was dangerous as well as illegal, and to take a picture of me parked illegally is annoying.”

The council spokesman said: “Our drivers are always told to park safely when stopping to photograph an illegally parked car. From time to time, this can mean that they have to park on double yellow lines, which they are allowed to do under Medway’s Traffic Regulation Orders. We tell staff that they can only do this if it is the only safe option.”