Parking our vans

[olilew]

My looper and I were approached by a Parking Services lady today as we delivered a parcel. She went on to tell us that from today (Saturday) they have been instructed to ticket any or all Royal Mail vans who are parked illegally. I explained to her that over our entire duty everywhere is either permit parking bays or pay and display bays. We quite often have to park on double yellows while we do loops because there is simply nowhere else to park. She told us that if we park on double yellows or a permit holder only bay, we have 5 minutes to move and if we park in a pay and display bay we have 5 minutes to either move or buy a ticket. I asked her how are we supposed to do our job and she said that she has to do her job or she would get into trouble.
Now this lady wasn't being Bolshi or had an attitude, she actually sympathised with us and implored us to get our gaffers to call their gaffers and sort something out. I told her that I got a ticket from them 3 weeks ago and our gaffer told them they would see us in court if they wanted to pursue the ticket and they cancelled it. She said that that won't happen again. An hour later another postie called me to tell me he'd got a ticket and it was this same woman!
What does everyone think about this and what is the answer if no-one gives?

[datasaint]

Crown exemption. We are permitted to park anywhere that's not dangerous to carry out our duties. If you get asked to move you should move however. Any fines you get leave with RM and they can challenge it.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Crown exemption. We are permitted to park anywhere that's not dangerous to carry out our duties. If you get asked to move you should move however. Any fines you get leave with RM and they can challenge it.

Thats now changed - its down to the local council if they give exemptions to Universal Service providers.

Drivers manual quotes:

You are only exempt from parking restrictions and priority vehicle lane regulations with specific permission from your manager, and only
when totally necessary. Most Local Authorities and Councils allow liveried Royal Mail vehicles exemption from certain restrictions applied to other road users. Permission is usually granted where there is no other means to achieve a delivery or collection, or where special circumstances apply (eg. high-value/special mail cases). Permission is never granted when access or a thoroughfare may be blocked.

Loading and unloading in a ‘no parking’ street or road

Royal Mail has no exemption from the law.

The driver is responsible for all penalties incurred, while he/she is in charge of the vehicle. However, most Police officers and traffic wardens understand the importance of mails distribution, and often make allowances. If your duty brings you into conflict with Police or traffic
wardens, report the matter immediately to your manager.

Loading and unloading is not prevented but your right to load and unload in a ‘no waiting’ street is subject to the following rules:
• You can only stop to load or unload and not for any other purpose.It is your responsibility to prove that you are acting within the rules and are entitled to stop.
• You should only stop in the main road if there is no rear access or nearby side road, which could be used.
• You should only stop for a time up to the maximum period allowed. If you cannot finish in that time and are challenged you must obtain permission from the Police or a traffic warden to overstay.
• A Police officer or traffic warden has the right to move you on at any time if your vehicle is causing an obstruction.

Loading/unloading restrictions
Royal Mail vehicles must comply with such restrictions unless there is an exemption for Royal Mail vehicles or vehicles belonging to a Universal Service Provider. Such an exemption will be contained in the local Traffic Management Order introducing the restrictions.

http://www.cwu-e4.co.uk/Drivers%20Manua%20(Reprint%2008%20final" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;).pdf

[postmandick]

I would tell the gaffer Dim/dom that you will pay the first Ticket and then refuse to deliver that area of your delivery as there is nowhere to park !

Q : What did/dose your Geo walk say as to where you can park ?

as if its not 'safe' to park 3 streets away van security Etc you can not deliver the post is this new enforcement position applicable to Yodel Etc

Let your DOM earn his wage

Happy New Year

[Mobey]

When did this change TBT?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

When did this change TBT?

If I remember correctly it was the last Postal Act which opened us up to privatisation.

[Creditshampoo]

I would tell the gaffer Dim/dom that you will pay the first Ticket and then refuse to deliver that area of your delivery as there is nowhere to park !

Q : What did/dose your Geo walk say as to where you can park ?

as if its not 'safe' to park 3 streets away van security Etc you can not deliver the post is this new enforcement position applicable to Yodel Etc

Let your DOM earn his wage

Happy New Year

Don't pay anything

[scoobydo79]

You get Your DOM to suspend deliveries to the areas where You may get parking tickets and watch the sh1t hit the fan

[Mobey]

When did this change TBT?

If I remember correctly it was the last Postal Act which opened us up to privatisation.

Thanks for that. When I had my changeover I was told we can still park on double yellows. Management even said it the other day when I checked it with them.

[gone postal]

On the changeover I did last year the guy said we can park on double yellows as long as it was for a simple delivery or collection to an adjacent house or postbox. But we are not to park the van on them to do loops.

[olilew]

Don't pay anything[/quote]

Don't worry I won't be paying jack s**t!

[olilew]

You get Your DOM to suspend deliveries to the areas where You may get parking tickets and watch the sh1t hit the fan

As I said in my OP, that would be the entire 2 walks!

[daveyeff]

couple of lads at ours have had parking tickets, and paid them. management didn't bat an eyelid.

[salomon2]

If it's really impossible to park then it should be changed to an hct duty.

[olilew]

If it's really impossible to park then it should be changed to an hct duty.

It's too far from the office to be an HCT duty. Royal Mail in their wisdom closed our office and moved us into the city centre!