Honesty not the best policy?

Calibos

Appeared in court this morning for non payment of parking fine.

I was pleading guilty and although I had an excuse for not paying the parking fine (€40 upto €60) during the 56 day payment period I wasn't prepared to discuss this in open court so just said that I simply forgot to pay it.

Judge fined me €120 with 3 months to pay.

Fair enough I suppose especially as I had heard the fine could be up to €300.

My problem with the proceedings was that 3 people were fined for parking and speeding offences at this court sitting. The speeder was doing 68KPH in a 50KPH zone and got a €60 fine. Myself and another chap (Parking Fines) both coincidentally driving newish Audi's (Him an 09 A6 and me an 07 TT) and who both plead guilty and attempted to pay a few days late with a receipt to prove it. We were fined €120 and €180 respectively.

About 8 or 9 other people were there for parking fines who said they never received the fixed penalty notice and were made to swear to that under oath and had their cases struck out. In one case the Judge was getting very frustrated with him.

Judge - Did you received the Fixed Penalty Notice?
Defendant - If I did I couldn't find it.
Judge - Did you receive a Fixed Penalty Notice?
Defendant - Like I said Judge, If don't remember seeing it and certainly couldn't find it.
Judge - Oh for Gods sake, Yes or No answer. Did you receive a Fixed Penalty Notice?
Defendant - No Judge.
Judge - It took me asking the question 3 times to get that answer (Rolls eyes). Case Struck out.

Its very strange that so many people had no recollection of receiving a Fixed Penalty notice don't you think??

It seems like if I was prepared to lie under oath I would have had my case struck out and not had to pay anything.

da_hambo

Calibos wrote: »

Appeared in court this morning for non payment of parking fine.

I was pleading guilty and although I had an excuse for not paying the parking fine (€40 upto €60) during the 56 day payment period I wasn't prepared to discuss this in open court so just said that I simply forgot to pay it.

Judge fined me €120 with 3 months to pay.

Fair enough I suppose especially as I had heard the fine could be up to €300.

My problem with the proceedings was that 3 people were fined for parking and speeding offences at this court sitting. The speeder was doing 68KPH in a 50KPH zone and got a €60 fine. Myself and another chap (Parking Fines) both coincidentally driving newish Audi's (Him an 09 A6 and me an 07 TT) and who both plead guilty and attempted to pay a few days late with a receipt to prove it. We were fined €120 and €180 respectively.

About 8 or 9 other people were there for parking fines who said they never received the fixed penalty notice and were made to swear to that under oath and had their cases struck out. In one case the Judge was getting very frustrated with him.


Its very strange that so many people had no recollection of receiving a Fixed Penalty notice don't you think??

It seems like if I was prepared to lie under oath I would have had my case struck out and not had to pay anything.

Yup sometimes i wonder how bad the post is that they fail to deliver summons. Must be thousands lost in the post. This loophole will have to be changed.