Woman refuses to leave clamped car in protest at £695 fine (From Echo)
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Woman refuses to leave clamped car in protest at £695 fine
1:00pm Thursday 10th January 2013 in Local News By David Trayner
Susan Hatton with her clamped car
A WOMAN sat in protest in her car for more than four hours after bailiffs clamped her and threatened to tow her away.
Charity volunteer Susan Hatton, 61, of Leigh, said she would rather be impounded than pay the £695 fee which had spiralled from a £35 parking fine from more than a year ago.
The baliffs, working for Southend Council, tried to seize the car yesterday.
However, after the Echo intervened the clamp was later removed and the council has now promised to review the case.
Mrs Hatton said: “I would have gone to the pound with it. They still haven’t taken me to court. I want my day in court.”
The volunteer came out of the St Mary’s Horse Refuge shop in Sutton Road, Southend, with her arms full of items for auction to find bailiffs had clamped her car at about 11.15am.
After sitting in the car for more than four hours as bailiffs waited for a recovery vehicle to arrive from Kent, Mrs Hatton said the clamp mysteriously disappeared as she popped to a cafe to visit the toilet.
Yet the council confirmed the bailiff had not removed the clamp and its removal was being treated as unauthorised.
The Echo told on Monday how Mrs Hatton was fined £35 for dropping her sick 84-year-old father, Ken, off in Eastwood Road North, Leigh, in December 2011.
The fine rose to £167 after Mrs Hatton refused to pay it because she had only stopped for eight seconds, but yesterday the bailiffs informed her it now stands at £695.
She said: “It’s annoying. I keep thinking eight seconds and now I owe them £700!”
Her fellow volunteers at the animal welfare charity supported her.
Sam Hurst, 33, of Southend, said: “It’s a bit much isn’t it. It’s more the fact that how they knew she was here. They have been following her.”
Lin Michaels, 61, of Southend, said: “It’s unjust.
“In 61 years I’ve never been in trouble with the law but I think this is so bad I would jump on the truck and bend its windscreen wipers to stop her car being taken away.”
Peter Geraghty, Southend council’s acting head of planning and transport, said: “We appreciate the anxiety situations like this can cause.
“We will be reviewing the relevant CCTV footage and the circumstances under which this penalty charge notice was issued.”
Comments are closed on this article.
Comments (91)
1:22pm Thu 10 Jan 13
emcee says...
Involvement of baliffs should only ever be done if it is to recover fines imposed by the court. This lady has not had her day in court because these parking cases are often mass cleared through a clearing court without the knowledge of the vehicle owners. This practice should stop.
1:29pm Thu 10 Jan 13
J_blond says...
1:30pm Thu 10 Jan 13
J_blond says...
The Echo even contradicts itself later on!
1:50pm Thu 10 Jan 13
Nebs says...
1:57pm Thu 10 Jan 13
r6keith says...
2:05pm Thu 10 Jan 13
John T Pharro says...
3:23pm Thu 10 Jan 13
Shoebury_Cyclist says...
No sympathy for her.
3:26pm Thu 10 Jan 13
Max 269 says...
3:53pm Thu 10 Jan 13
Southend dave says...
3:55pm Thu 10 Jan 13
jayman says...
https://portal.the-s
ia.org.uk/web/start.
swe?SWECmd=GotoView&
_sn=ZFJ63qEi8CiJe-FD
eXcVTGVt9vXFONMxQCEL
QnZfDY8_&SWEView=LDL
+Licence+Query+View&
SWEHo=portal.the-sia
.org.uk&SWETS=135783
2785
you would be surprised how many are operating with invalid or expired licenses.
a bailiff is required by law to provide you with license number and court order to levy goods.
ensure you get a date in court.
any fine leading to the removal of goods must go before a magistrate. otherwise it is not a fine (it a penalty notice) and goods cannot be removed without a court fine.
lock it away.
if a bailiff comes to your house 'don't let them in' unless it is for non payment of council tax or they have a warrant from the courts (ask to see it) then they can only make 'peaceful entry' they cannot levy goods that they cannot see. keep your car in a garage or park up a fare distance away from your house.
do not let them in. If they attempt to force an entry 'call the police'
3:59pm Thu 10 Jan 13
jayman says...
good luck trying to get a tow truck in one of them.
4:11pm Thu 10 Jan 13
Southend dave says...
4:27pm Thu 10 Jan 13
firedog says...
4:27pm Thu 10 Jan 13
Carnabackable says...
4:44pm Thu 10 Jan 13
Rich"Carol says...
Theres parking and theres naughty parking. If the offence is diobilcle then ticket them, but these gestapo do not have an ounce of common sense what so ever.
Ive had around 9 tickets and only appealed on 2 and won both appeals. If I have parked wrongly then yes ticket the vehicle, dropping someone off or picking someone up in a matter of under 10 seconds should not be a ticket.
I got a £100 fine for stopping on the yellow boxes on a turn right junction. But I never stopped and the camera dont lie. I pleaded in Snaresbrook crown Court NOT GUILTY and was told if Im found guilty on the camera evidance I may have had a £250 fine plus prosecuting costs. I was so sure I never stopped and my solicitor asked for the evidence of the moving camera of 43 seconds. I got not guilty as I was moving and was not stationary. Come on people we gotta stop these Nazi like we did in the 1930s
4:51pm Thu 10 Jan 13
stopmoaning1 says...
To reiterate;
Setting down or picking up on double yellow lines = legal
Setting down or picking up on solid wide yellow bus stop line for 1 second = illegal
Setting down or picking up on solid wide yellow bus stop line for 2 seconds = illegal
Setting down or picking up on solid wide yellow bus stop line for 3 seconds = illegal
Do you see the pattern here, it goes right up to 7 seven seconds from the story the other day, to 8 seconds in today’s story
Pay up or shut up
4:51pm Thu 10 Jan 13
Shoebury_Cyclist says...
Simple really.
4:59pm Thu 10 Jan 13
stopmoaning1 says...
5:04pm Thu 10 Jan 13
Keptquiettillnow says...
5:06pm Thu 10 Jan 13
Carnabackable says...
5:11pm Thu 10 Jan 13
stopmoaning1 says...
5:45pm Thu 10 Jan 13
Druggie Scumbag says...
As you may have noticed, stopmoaning, Rich"Carol is already off her/his head.
6:32pm Thu 10 Jan 13
Rich"Carol says...
6:44pm Thu 10 Jan 13
Rich"Carol says...
Yes theres different kinds of burglary
(1) If someone forces open a door in a shop and steals a pint of milk and a bag of crisps thats burglary. Not theft its burglary
(2) If someone enters a locked dwelling or building and steals the till thats Burglary
(3) If you are asleep and a person breaks into your home and steals your items thats also burglary.
So there is burglary and 2 and 3 is diabolical
6:49pm Thu 10 Jan 13
Rich"Carol says...
I think all you fools that would accept this are cowards and idiots. I say if you never done it then dont plead guilty. You cant get a jury to decide a minor motoring offence at Crown. Its one judge and his decision is final. Where do you people get your legal information womans own ?
6:51pm Thu 10 Jan 13
Carnabackable says...
7:03pm Thu 10 Jan 13
HK9597 says...
Thinks she knows it all and acts tough, but when a journalist called her bluff, she cacked herself!
7:56pm Thu 10 Jan 13
supershrimper says...
8:02pm Thu 10 Jan 13
stopmoaning1 says...
8:05pm Thu 10 Jan 13
stopmoaning1 says...
Yes theres different kinds of burglary
(1) If someone forces open a door in a shop and steals a pint of milk and a bag of crisps thats burglary. Not theft its burglary
(2) If someone enters a locked dwelling or building and steals the till thats Burglary
(3) If you are asleep and a person breaks into your home and steals your items thats also burglary.
So there is burglary and 2 and 3 is diabolical
Idiot
8:09pm Thu 10 Jan 13
Essex Medja says...
.
sad sooooo sad.
8:14pm Thu 10 Jan 13
Devils Advocate says...
I think you have made a few mistakes in your story.
Firstly, most men are not mice, just a little able to tell right from wrong.
Secondly: "Big brother wasnt suppossed to be like this as it now like a nazi society."
You should read Orwell's 1984 before speaking about "Big Brother," and then you talk about the Nazi society?
You mean that you think you could have written in the paper about the Nazis the way you wrote about our enforcement officers and still be alive? You never lived the Nazi society, please don't draw comparisons you know little of!
8:15pm Thu 10 Jan 13
Essex Medja says...
Unless we start to do something about clampers, spycars and wardens collecting revenue we will all be yes sir no sir withing 5 years. Big brother wasnt suppossed to be like this as it now like a nazi society. Givem a uniform and its back tp the 30s. Come on people stop sitting behind your curtains and big big. This country is full of mice not men.
Theres parking and theres naughty parking. If the offence is diobilcle then ticket them, but these gestapo do not have an ounce of common sense what so ever.
.
.
So speaks "Rumpled of the Balley's".
9:04pm Thu 10 Jan 13
DogsMessInLeigh says...
9:47pm Thu 10 Jan 13
BIRLIS says...
Just pay up! You seem to have been given the chane to save your car. Use that chance.
10:13pm Thu 10 Jan 13
asbo. just the truth says...
11:02pm Thu 10 Jan 13
echoforum says...
8:19am Fri 11 Jan 13
Rich"Carol says...
I would not pay a fine if I did not commit the crime. If Susan believes she did not commit an offence then good for he standing up for herself.
I know people will be putting rude comments again on this posting so bring it on and make me smile. I love it and enjoy it .
People this is a comments site and that makes it good. My thoughts and beliefs are mine and yours are yours so bring it on,
9:24am Fri 11 Jan 13
HK9597 says...
Will the real rich Carol please stand up!
Oh and but the way, she admits to committing the offence but feels it is unfair. It is as simple as that. However harsh it seems, she broke the law.
9:24am Fri 11 Jan 13
Rouge9 says...
9:43am Fri 11 Jan 13
Essex Medja says...
.
Perhaps you could take up the case of the Somalian women who you claim are locked up at Bullwood Hall?
11:00am Fri 11 Jan 13
stopmoaning1 says...
11:16am Fri 11 Jan 13
Monkeytennis1 says...
11:52am Fri 11 Jan 13
HK9597 says...
Nobody cares, and most don't believe a word she says, especially after the journalist called her bluff....
She's not even smart enough to change her tag name.
Jog on!
p.s Her Daughter married a Jewish man don't you know? I bet he'd really enjoy her Gestapo and Nazi comments.
1:00pm Fri 11 Jan 13
Devils Advocate says...
Good to see you have a sense of humour, and I guess you mean "A 64 year old successful woman?"
What do you mean by that? that you have managed to be a woman all your life, or that you have had children and that makes you a woman. Or perhaps you just mean you have money in the bank? If so, I look forward to meeting you on judgement day, if money is your only way of judging people. Remember, the money lenders were thrown out of the temple! Oh, and I am rapidly approaching 69 and well, known, I suppose.
2:18pm Fri 11 Jan 13
HK9597 says...
She makes some awful comments and, when a journalist turned up on one of the days she was supposed to be sitting, surprise surpise. NO SHOW!
Every time she spouts off, ask her where and when she is next sitting as a magistrate. She goes mysteriously quiet.....
3:20pm Fri 11 Jan 13
Rich"Carol says...
Thought you would have known Bullwood was not a womans jail anymore ? You seen to think you know everything but it seems you know Jach Sh&t .. Too many knowalls and another one to join the list.
3:27pm Fri 11 Jan 13
Rich"Carol says...
Best you check your details about Sunday opening unless you meant Waitrose in the high street.
If you increase the Prozac you may stop dreaming and making up stories and I know Prozac increases a jelous streak so you must be full to the Brim.
The only time i go missing is holidays or visiting my daughter in the US otherwise Im here !
OK apoligies from you accepted and no offence by you taken but gotta feeling you will open that sill mouth and tell me the courts are open sundays.. Well they are NOT open. Foolish human being !
3:37pm Fri 11 Jan 13
Rich"Carol says...
No I wont report you for racist remarks because I am big enough to accept thats your thoughts. But other people may take offence as a lot of people write and read these posts and Westcliffe has a large Jewish congregation and I am sure you will upset a few.
I have never seen a journalist via evening echo except when I raise funds via different means and I have on 2 occassions had a photo taken. Ask Mo my good friend Basildon mayoress if I am a nice lady ?
Just stop your racist comments NOW
3:38pm Fri 11 Jan 13
Monkeytennis1 says...
Please have the decency to know when you have been rumbled.
3:59pm Fri 11 Jan 13
Rich"Carol says...
Going back to the parking offence. Good luck to her for standing by her guns. If she belives she had commited no crime the stand up as your doing.
If that was me, I would have paid the original fine and be done with it.
4:12pm Fri 11 Jan 13
stopmoaning1 says...
I've only just started contibuting to the forum so don't know the history the others are talking about, but you do seem to contradict yourself, and why do I want to know how old you are, what car you drive, where your daughter lives or what charities you are involved with. I thought the idea of the forum was to comment on the story or do I need a different forum for that
4:41pm Fri 11 Jan 13
Rich"Carol says...
I got through the post a £100 fine and a letter stating I had to send my license in to get 3 penalty points.
Are you with me so far .. Good !
I sent all the rubbish back to where it came from with a letter saying incorrect I did not stop and was never stationary. OK ! are you still with me ?
I attended Newham Magistrates court and nice clear photos we given to me and to the magistrate. I said loudly ..Yes Sir that is my range rover, yes Sir that was me driving and NO SIR i never was staionary for even half a second. The idiot magistrate said extra £50 fine and £75 costs. Are you still with me ??
We appealed to crown court and asked for the moving cctv and moving traffic camera evidance for the crown court.
Try and keep up dear !
In Snaresbrook crown the moving photos were shown on a tv type of screen twice and Judge looked at the enforcement officer and asked loudly to the traffic enforcement office explain what you saw on screen and the enforcement officer stated to the Judge who sat alone on the bench, no jury, after looking twice at the moving film that at NO time this defendants vouge was stationary, he said but it was only just moving but NOT at anytime staionary as the still photos showed at magistrates court.
The Judge found in favour of myself and apologised for the incorrect traffic prosecution, I got £90 awarded for unlawful prosecution. As the Judge stated, you have to be stationary to be convicted and as the film showed I was just barely moving and never stopped at anytime.
Hope now Ive explained why how and what. Im sure you can grasp this ! I was NOT GUILTY ..
4:44pm Fri 11 Jan 13
Monkeytennis1 says...
However it appears to have been hijacked by Rich Carol and her name dropping look at me ramblings..
It appears however she is not all she claims and quite honestly I think that’s a good thing as on paper she
Sounds as mad a box of frogs (purchased from Waitrose!)
4:56pm Fri 11 Jan 13
Rich"Carol says...
Now you are picking on waitrose. Am I now shopping in the incorrect shop ? What is wrong with waitrose ? I love their food. Ok I admit I do sometimes go to sainsburys so I hope thats ok with you.
Lets hope now you stop making comments, but i have my doubts .
4:58pm Fri 11 Jan 13
Monkeytennis1 says...
No more comments I promise
5:00pm Fri 11 Jan 13
stopmoaning1 says...
6:08pm Fri 11 Jan 13
HK9597 says...
Seriously disrespectful to those who suffered at their hands.
Go and get some help!
6:44pm Fri 11 Jan 13
Rich"Carol says...
You gotta accept that not all people think like others. Nazi's and the Gestapo were bullys in uniform and i can understand why people think these road enforcement officers and spy car drivers are i suppose is an extreme way of describing them.
We might think its extreme but they dont and in this life we cant get rude and abusive to people for their veiws.
I hate the Nazi's as much as the next person so if people think these spycar drivers remind them of Nazi's bullys thats their idea on the subject.
Me and my daughter both wear the Star of David as respect for my son in law and my daughter marrying a different religion even though im C of E.
I suppose now I will be told to remove my star by many people on this site and get abuse, but I wont remove it and just laugh to myself.
6:53pm Fri 11 Jan 13
stopmoaning1 says...
6:56pm Fri 11 Jan 13
stopmoaning1 says...
7:05pm Fri 11 Jan 13
Rich"Carol says...
Everytime I say my bit I get mongrels telling me Im wrong. Its all a matter of opinions. Surley if someone dont agree then thats their thoughts and we should accept another persons opinion. No one is right or wrong cos its opinions not gospel.
7:08pm Fri 11 Jan 13
maxell says...
7:15pm Fri 11 Jan 13
HK9597 says...
http://www.echo-news
.co.uk/news/9840346.
Assaulting_our_warde
ns_won___t_get_rid_o
f_spy_cars____but_it
_will_get_you_prosec
uted/
Lots of of Nazis, Gestapo and even the KKK comments from Carol!
Look at these posts:
12.38pm 28th July
29th July 7.40pm
30th July 9.08am
31st July 5.51pm (Carol this is where you claimed to be in court on the 5th of August – which was a SUNDAY)
Look at comments from the end of July onwards, this is when PJR-121 called Carols bluff and attended Basildon magistrates court on Monday 6th August!
Seriously good reading and shows carol for what she is!
By the way, August 2012 was 5 months ago, so how is it that you haven't sat on the bench for 14 months? either way, you are a LIAR!!!!!
7:17pm Fri 11 Jan 13
InTheKnowOk says...
7:24pm Fri 11 Jan 13
stopmoaning1 says...
7:24pm Fri 11 Jan 13
EssexMan007 says...
10:18pm Fri 11 Jan 13
Lastlaugh... says...
10:44pm Fri 11 Jan 13
Lastlaugh... says...
10:18am Sat 12 Jan 13
HK9597 says...
Just search 'assaulting our wardens echo' and you will see the story and comments.
12:50pm Sat 12 Jan 13
Jock37ng says...
7:36pm Sat 12 Jan 13
InTheKnowOk says...
7:17am Sun 13 Jan 13
EssexPerson says...
Realistically there is no way she stopped her car (illegally), dropped off the 84 yo father and drive off in that time.
Just grow up women, stop wasting tax payers money with stupid appeals and pay the fine.
They have even reduced it back to £70 and she is being a stubborn fool and not paying that either.
You broke the law, pay the fine and move on dear!
1:18pm Sun 13 Jan 13
DogsMessInLeigh says...
would be great if these cars where infact Bright Orange/Yellow etc....that way they would stand out more instead of the blending in White and black, after all they are a deterrent and the brighter colours will deter more people from parking wrong as they will spot the camera car easier....but will they change colour thus reducing the income..? will they ****.
3:01pm Sun 13 Jan 13
andy:) says...
's are clearly following her around !
The BBC did a great program on councils and their abuse of parking/driving fines and a good proportion of the programe was all about Southend's spy car.
http://www.bbc.co.uk
/iplayer/episode/b01
pvbyr/Parking_Mad/
5:02pm Sun 13 Jan 13
stopmoaning1 says...
5:11pm Sun 13 Jan 13
halojump says...
You get a ticket, you either pay it or send in your evidence and other information to southend council.
They review it and say yes or no.
If its a no you get details on how to appeal if this is unsuccesful then you pay and make it clear you do not admit guilt but are paying as you have been found guilty and fined. Then you appeal to the tribunal.
Why let it get to bailiffs they dont have an appeals procudure and you cant reason with them as they are acting under the law.
Its strange the lady sat with her car for four hours and then went to the cafe rather than the charity shop she works in to use the loo only to find the clamp disapeared although local taxi drivers have a theory about this.
The bailiffs are using ANPR tech to find cars and i would believe will in the end do a snatch and grab job with a full lift truck that can get a car over walls or in blocked spaces. She will lend up loosing the car completely if she isnt careful and still owing the bailiffs some fees. Her day in court migh come but it wont be about the parking fine but to enable a ccj against her so bailiffs can recover their cost because the car wont be enough soon to cover it. (cars sold by bailiffs generally only make 40% of their value)
5:26pm Sun 13 Jan 13
GentleGiant says...
I hope the council take her to court - where she will lose and look very silly.
Pay the now reduced amount and carry on.
Stopping on a bus stop is a big no-no - everyone knows that and if she didn't, should she be driving?
10:03pm Sun 13 Jan 13
DogsMessInLeigh says...
10:24am Mon 14 Jan 13
Beth the original one says...
10:52am Mon 14 Jan 13
DogsMessInLeigh says...
*98% is a guestimate.
11:24am Mon 14 Jan 13
r6keith says...
4:03pm Mon 14 Jan 13
Maverick06 says...
Parking matters are civil matter and would never go to Crown Court, so your so called 'not guilty' plea it the same rubbish you continue to spout off on this site.
Nobody is a Nazi and nobody is the Gestapo, so try and grow up just a little bit.
People might not like getting a parking ticket, but however deperate they are they are never going to follow your 'call to arms' against the system as you spout of rubbish every time.
You are like Mr Ben (Oldskool Childens program), you are somebody new every day, but nobody ever takes any notice of you!
4:14pm Mon 14 Jan 13
Maverick06 says...
OK I appreciate it is £70 the offer and not £35, but she wants her day in court, which is never going to happen.
Perhaps the lady should read all these quotes and then understand that public opinion isn't with her.
4:22pm Mon 14 Jan 13
Maverick06 says...
OK I appreciate it is £70 the offer and not £35, but she wants her day in court, which is never going to happen.
Perhaps the lady should read all these quotes and then understand that public opinion isn't with her.
4:22pm Mon 14 Jan 13
Maverick06 says...
OK I appreciate it is £70 the offer and not £35, but she wants her day in court, which is never going to happen.
Perhaps the lady should read all these quotes and then understand that public opinion isn't with her.
4:22pm Mon 14 Jan 13
Maverick06 says...
OK I appreciate it is £70 the offer and not £35, but she wants her day in court, which is never going to happen.
Perhaps the lady should read all these quotes and then understand that public opinion isn't with her.
6:39pm Mon 14 Jan 13
halojump says...
11:59am Tue 15 Jan 13
J_blond says...
Anyway I'm sorry but have to agree - firstly, 7 seconds for an elderly gentleman who can't walk to a bus stop to get out of a car seems impossible, and if she'd just accepted the fine, and the ruling of the council, none of this would be making news.
I guess it's just the 'I'm hard done by, I'll try and get out of it' sob story approach. Too many people run to the papers these days...
5:58pm Tue 15 Jan 13
Maverick06 says...
11:05am Wed 6 Feb 13
Chris Flunk says...