Free Traffic Legal Advice

This is parking for my freehold house (home owner) and we park on the street behind the house.  The parking is owned by Reading Borough Council and management by PCM.  We have permits to park in the designated bays with unrestricted use.

I received a PCM for not displaying the permit in my windscreen - it was in a rear passenger window.  This is because the permit genuinely obstructs the view ahead as it's about 80mm square.

"Regulation 30 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 (SI 1986 No. 1078 as amended) requires that [...] Windscreen stickers, or other obstructions, shall not encroach more than 40mm".  PCM signage suggests (a small illustration approx 10ft high) the permit should be on the windscreen in a manner that would breach this regulation.

I also have CCTV shortly before the incident showing that the permit was clearly displayed in the rear window. PCM's photo evidence includes photos of every car window except the one showing the permit.

IAS appeal was rejected as expected and a debt collector threat letter since arrived.  My MP has written to PCM with the evidence.  I put the above to PCM but they have ignored the above in their replies, instead quoting a dictionary definition of a windscreen, and are pursuing the fine.  Hence I'd like to take it to court as it seems unreasonable to fine a resident that was fairly parked.

I've attached the picture of the sign, as photographed by PCN.  I wouldn't say it's "easy" to read it from street level.

I guess the question is whether the permit can be considered valid if it is not displayed in the windscreen specifically, also noting it's size. There is no obstruction around the parking bays to see all the car windows.

The council (or perhaps just the people I managed to get hold of there) suggested they cannot help with my appeal as it's managed by PCM.

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