A viral TikTok video series sparks a local council review of its parking fine signs, highlighting a case of misleading information that has led to confusion and fines for motorists.
A woman’s TikTok videos about parking fines on a city centre street have led to a council reviewing its signs.
Parking fines are penalties imposed by authorities for violating parking regulations.
They vary depending on the location, duration of parking, and type of vehicle.
In many cities, parking meters or pay-and-display machines are used to collect fees.
Failure to pay or exceed time limits can result in a fine.
The average cost of a parking fine is around $50-$100 , but it can range from $20 to over $200.
Some jurisdictions also offer discounts for prompt payment or have tiered systems with increasing fines.
The videos, which have attracted millions of views, show a ‘stake out’ of the bays and footage of people receiving parking tickets for the same reason.
The Signage Saga: A Story of Misleading Information
The issue started when a T-shirt designer and filmmaker, who goes by the online alias zoë bread, received a fine after parking on Collier Street in Manchester city centre and buying a ticket at the wrong meter. The Pay At Machine sign pointed to both the private car park and the council one, leading to confusion.
zoë bread documented her penalty charge notice, rejection of her parking fine appeal, and other people’s similar stories. She submitted a Freedom of Information request to the council and reviewed official documents on the number of parking fines issued on the road. Her investigation revealed that the opening of the SIP private car park in 2018 corresponded with an increase in the number of fines being issued on the road.
A Call for Change
The videos have attracted the attention of opposition Liberal Democrat councillor Alan Good, who contacted zoë bread after her films appeared on his social media newsfeed. He believes that parking fines appealed on the street due to confusion over signage should be ‘rescinded’. The council has acknowledged that there was ‘some confusion amongst a small number of motorists‘ and will now explore if additional signage is needed.
The local authority believes that clear signage indicates the presence of a private car park, but a spokesman acknowledged that some drivers have bought tickets from the wrong machine. The council’s decision to review its signs may lead to changes in the way parking fines are issued on the road.
