I was only parked there for a minute Judge!

brownej

It seems like the "I was only parked there for a minute" defense is a valid one in court.

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/coroner-avoids-fine-for-parking-on-footway-1.1870945

"Judge O’Connor dismissed the fines saying that Mr O’Connell was a “decent man” who was doing a small bit of business which lasted a few minutes."

dantastic

I'm a decent fella. Can I park wherever the **** I want too!?
What a jackass of a judge!

Tabnabs

Other people do it, so why can't I?!

A donation to charity would have been a more sensible outcome at the very least.

dudara

Shure everyone else was doing it, why can't I?

It might have been true, and we'd all like leniency, but at some stage there has to be a standard for everyone to adhere to.

UPDATE: Why didn't you say originally that this involved Cork parking? Everyone parks on the footpath in Cork - that way you don't actually park on the double yellow lines! Genuinely, Cork has a massive parking issue, where lots of people will park pretty much whereever they like. Parking around the GAA stadiums is crazy on match days with pedestrians having to walk on the roads, because cars are on the footpath. It's terrible (and I say this as a Cork person).

Caliden

If they gave tickets to County Council who did it then this wouldn't be an issue.

HurtLocker

Good for him. Times are tough and the forty euro fine handed out is way out of proportion. Lack of parking and over zealous wardens along with huge council rates are the reasons local business is failing in Cork City Centre. People need to chill out over petty things like this. Reduce the fine to its previous level of under €20 during the boom and then it's fair game. €40 isn't a disincentive anymore than a way of milking the general public when they were facing cutbacks.

This year councils get control of parking fines I think hopefully they'll be as quick to lower them as they have been to lower the property tax grab headlines.

KCAccidental

Probably one of the judges who parks on the footpath outside the courthouse in Cork!

HurtLocker

KCAccidental wrote: »

Probably one of the judges who parks on the footpath outside the courthouse in Cork!

It's optional if you are a member of an authority by the looks of it.

Gardai last week. Note the empty parking lot behind!!


(From Facebook)

ofcork

The path where he parked is about 20ft wide now so he wasn't blocking anyone.

joujoujou

Plopli

HurtLocker wrote: »

It's optional if you are a member of an authority by the looks of it.

Gardai last week. Note the empty parking lot behind!!


(From Facebook)

It doesn't look parked on the footpath but on the grass.
And if he parked on the parking without going to the shop, he would be subject to clamping no ?

Ok - I'm taking the door ...

bitemeluis

I have a proposed solution - can we not make parking fines, speeding fines and the like tax deductible?

Voodoomelon

I always wonder how it's more cost effective to get a solicitor to defend you than to pay a parking fine. Is it no win, no fee? And if you do win, surely the fee is more than the fine?

Del2005

bitemeluis wrote: »

I have a proposed solution - can we not make parking fines, speeding fines and the like tax deductible?

Then the fine looses it's purpose. A fine is supposed to penalise you, making it tax deductible wouldn't be a penalty.

Del2005

Voodoomelon wrote: »

I always wonder how it's more cost effective to get a solicitor to defend you than to pay a parking fine. Is it no win, no fee? And if you do win, surely the fee is more than the fine?

IIRC no win no fee was out lawed a few years ago to reduce the amount of spurious claims, not that it worked, but if you can get a solicitor who will work for less than the fine I wouldn't think they would be that good.

Voodoomelon

But sure what's a parking fine, €40-€120 depending on what/where? What solicitor will go to court for that?