Car keys stolen, are we liable for PCN?

[jilly_mc]

Last night my partner went to the gym. While there, his car keys were taken. He rang me to come and pick him up and we reported the incident to the police around 9pm last night (we have a crime reference number).

 

This morning we went to the gym to check if the keys had been handed in (and if the car had been stolen!) and there was a PCN on the car. The car was parked legally last night but not covered from 6am this morning.

 

Given then that we could not move the car as we do not have the keys, and that the incident has been reported to the police, will he still be liable for the PCN or can it be appealed?

[tomtubby]

Who was the ticket by?

[jilly_mc]

Who was the ticket by?

 

To the best of my knowledge the car park is operated by Dacorum Borough Council. I haven't got the PCN to hand so can't check who the issuing authority is.

 

The Dacorum website does state that mitigating circumstances can be taken into account and that these should be where the circumstances leading to the PCN being issued were beyond the owner's control. I suppose my question is whether the fact that we were physically unable to move the car as the keys have been removed would be considered by the council as circumstances beyond out control.

[firstclassx]

If theft/loss was reported to police and you got a reference number, then I suspect good chance of winning an appeal.

 

You sure you have a Crime Reference Number, and not a Lost Property Reference Number? Might be significant.

[jilly_mc]

Yes we checked that - I've been caught out with a 'lost' stolen phone before (along the lines of the police asking if I saw who stole my phone - I replied of course not, or I'd have stopped them from stealing it) - it's definitely a CRN.

[tomtubby]

You have posted a query on the PRIVATE PARKING part of the forum when it would seem that your query would be for LOCAL AUTHORITY issued tickets.

 

The good news is that you can make an "informal representation" to the local authority and explain the matter of the missing keys. If rejected, wait to receive the Notice to Owner and make Formal Representation.

[freakyleaky]

You have posted a query on the PRIVATE PARKING part of the forum when it would seem that your query would be for LOCAL AUTHORITY issued tickets.

.

 

Thread moved

[Michael Browne]

Appeal using exemption J, which applies to most contraventions, coupled with the crime reference no.:

 

J.A vehicle is prevented from moving by circumstances beyond the drivers control.