There are very few things that are as frustrating as returning to your vehicle and seeing that you have a parking ticket. What’s even worse is getting a notice in the mail from the parking eye saying that you were parked illegally, and now you need to pay a fine. One of the biggest issues is trying to get the photographic evidence that proves you were parked illegally. At times, you may get an official looking notice that says that if you do not pay your fine by X date, your fine will double. But you have to be careful because sometimes it is not an official fine from the government, but instead an invoice sent by a private entity. An official fine from the government must be paid. There is very little that can be done to maneuver your way out of this. However, if the fine is from a nonofficial source, there may be some wiggle room.
The problem is that in an attempt to get a person to pay their fine as quickly as possible, invoices may be accompanied with offers or scare tactics. It may say that the fine for parking illegally is 100 British pounds. However, if you pay the fine by five days, you will only need to pay 50 pounds.
The goal is to make the reader feel happy that their fine is reduced and hopefully quickly pay the fine without really investigating who the author of the fine or invoice is. Remember, if an invoice is sent to your home saying that you were parked illegally, a person has the right to demand photographic evidence of their illegal activity. The photographic evidence should be sent to their home before the due date for the fine. If not, a person may have recourse to fight the fine in court.
The point is, even when dealing with law enforcement or with organizations that have been tasked by law enforcement to gather fines, a person needs to know their rights. They need to know what steps they can take to fight the fine and what steps they can take to protect themselves from receiving late fees and penalties.
When a person knows their rights, they have power. They have the ability to prevent themselves from being taken advantage of by individuals who would intentionally misuse the laws, as well as by those who with good intent misunderstand the law.