http://www.manchester.gov.uk/egov_downloads/200910_Parking_Report_to_the_Joint_Committee.pdf "One of the principle difficulties is that the driver of the CCTV vehicle parks is for anything up to five minutes while the operator points the camera at the offending vehicle. Appellants have questioned why the council CCTV car can park for five minutes on a double yellow line while they are having penalties imposed on them for the same practice. Adjudicators have noticed that in some of the correspondence the council has claimed that the TMA provides an exemption from parking restrictions for a CCTV vehicle. This is not the case - there are NO provisions in the TMA or any of its regulations that create exemptions to parking restrictions in TROs for vehicles engaged in camera enforcement."

A couple of inspiring examples of what can be done by a few people standing up to enforcement rip-offs. From West End Extra: Published: 11 February 2011 by JOSH LOEB A CITY hall internal probe could lead to its paying back millions of pounds to drivers fined on Westminster roads. On Friday council parking chief Kevin Goad dramatically announced that all traffic enforcement in the borough had been halted pending the result of the investigation. His comments came in an email to a member of campaign group the ....who had highlighted what they say are faults in traffic signage and called on Mr Goad to investigate. Mr Goad said: “The review of sites is already underway and we have suspended enforcement at all sites in the interim.” The development was welcomed by campaigners and opposition councillors, who claim City Hall is exploiting motorists as “cash cows”. If the investigation concludes the signs do not comply with legislation, it could pave the way for thousands of drivers fined by the council to claim their money back. A member of the ................., who did not wish to be named, said: “This is not an admission by the council and they might come back and say they have investigated and found the signs are OK.” But he added: “I am 99.9 per cent sure that I’m right and that all these signs are wrong.” The .......is a breakaway group formed by members of ...., which campaigns against motorcycle parking fees. As well as many bikers, its ranks include car drivers and cabbies, some of whom wear masks from the film V for Vendetta – about an uprising against a totalitarian authority, with which they compare Westminster City Council. They carry out regular protests and “hunts” of CCTV camera cars. Last month the group won a victory when City Hall’s head of transport, Martin Low, admitted signs at one site – the junction of Lower James Street and Brewer Street in Soho – were “not as clear as they should be”. He apologised to motorists wrongly fined for driving straight across at the junction and said they should contact the council for a refund. Labour group leader Paul Dimoldenberg said the council should refund drivers’ money immediately if it was found to be at fault. He said: “Once again there is a serious problem with the council’s parking regime and many hundreds, if not thousands, of motorists may have been wrongly fined. Many millions of pounds may have to be given back.” A ......spokesman said confusing signage compromised safety as it could lead to accidents. He said: “It’s not enough to say contact the council for a refund. They’ve got names and addresses. They’re very eager to take money off people but they won’t contact them and say ok, here you go, here’s your money back.” Lee Rowley, cabinet member for parking, said: “We work hard to ensure our roads have clear and relevant signs and markings and it is great to see members of the public helping us to be as clear as possible with this. I’d like to express my thanks to those people who have pointed out where we could be clearer which, in turn, is helping to ensure Westminster Council provides an even better service for everyone.” Another ........ action in Southwark revealed around 500 illegally issued PCN's (another invalid TMO), all of which have been cancelled or refunded according to the latest FOI Request. NB: Due to some confusion, I should point out that ..... are allied to, but not part of, ..... ..... are a group fighting revenue driven enforcement in general, whilst ..... focus exclusively on Westminster's bike parking charge.

After painstaking research, edit discovered that Westminster City Council have been fining drivers for obeying the law! The Traffic Management Order permits going straight ahead into Sherwood St from Lwr James St, Soho, but WCC erected non-compliant signs, without authority, to enforce a left turn into Brewer St. Those who did not comply were fined! Fortunately, it was nipped in the bud after nearly 400 £120 PCN's were issued in December or this highway robbery could have netted up to £500,000 per annum. It looks like this is not the only case and more are being examined. WCC have increased their fleet of these cars from 2 to 7, so expect more desperate measures.

We are a campaign group dedicated to regaining the voice of the individual. Initially we are taking on the so called parking “industry” but our remit will not stop there. We want to open the public's eyes to the likes of the oppression we have already encountered at local and central government level, and will explore in an open forum any lawful ways of fighting oppression, greed and corruption at all levels of business and government. We will do this by direct action. We need an army of volunteers, armchair or otherwise, to join us and stand as one to simply say ENOUGH! People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people. Here is one recent exposing underhand revenue driven tactics, that will save motorists up to £500,000 per annum in fines for complying with the law!