Hartshilll taxi driver hit with Knutton parking fine- despite police pleading to overturn ticket

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Saturday, October 13, 2012
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The Sentinel

TAXI driver Bashir Choudhry has been hit with a fine for parking outside a police station – despite officers pleading with the council to overturn the ticket.

Mr Choudhry drove to Newcastle police station to report a crime after a fare-dodging thug smashed his windscreen.

  1. TICKET: Cabbie Bashir Choudhry outside Newcastle police station.

    TICKET: Cabbie Bashir Choudhry outside Newcastle police station.

He parked in a space meant for police cars after officers invited him to bring in his damaged cab for a forensic examination.

But the taxi driver was furious when a parking attendant issued a £70 fine because he was 'parked in a bay meant for police vehicles'.

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Now managers at Newcastle Borough Council have refused to waive the charge – despite a letter from Staffordshire Police asking them to reconsider.

Mr Choudhry last night hit out at 'jobsworth' parking attendants, and said he has refused to pay.

The 42-year-old, who lives in Grice Road, Hartshill, said: "I can't believe this has happened after the police wrote a personal letter.

"The council just don't want to listen and now I'm the victim. I have the cost of the damage to my car to worry about, and the fine too."

Mr Choudhry called police after a customer refused to pay a fare in Knutton. The male passenger then climbed out of the taxi before smashing the windscreen.

Police initially said they would have to check CCTV records, but when these failed to show the incident, Mr Choudhry was invited to bring his car to Newcastle police station to make a statement.

After receiving the fine, officers passed him a hand-written note to send to Newcastle Borough Council, insisting he had their full permission to park outside the station.

But now the taxi driver has received a letter from the authority informing him his appeal against the fine has failed.

Father-of-two Mr Choudhry said: "It's ridiculous. The police wrote me a letter, which I sent to the council with my appeal, but to no avail."

In a letter refusing to overturn the fine, the council said: "We appreciate that at the time, you state you were reporting an incident to the police.

"However, this bay is strictly for the use of police vehicles only."

A handwritten letter from Staffordshire Police, addressed to the council, says: "The driver of the vehicle was at the station as he is a victim of crime.

"He was there to make a statement and for an inspection of the windscreen."

The letter from the council says Mr Choudhry has 14 days to pay a reduced fine of £35 before the full £70 penalty applies.

The council said Mr Choudhry has the option to make further representation to the council if he wishes to take the matter further.

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  • Profile image for camband

    by camband

    Thursday, October 25 2012, 12:35PM

    “There goes a defeated blatherer folks. Tail between his legs -yelping like a frightened puppy. Obviously afraid to turn around and fight his corner. Oh well, happy days.”

  • Profile image for mykidsfuture

    by mykidsfuture

    Wednesday, October 24 2012, 7:37PM

    “Camband
    No you haven't answered my questions! And no I am not going to put them to you again, why? Because you are obviously so wrapped up in your misguided self importance that you cannot read and understand what is in front of you. You really do spout the most twaddle of anyone that I have come across.
    Don't bother responding because you will probably respond with something that is totally wide of the field and in any case I can't be bothered to waste any more of my valuable time on such a person as you.”

  • Profile image for camband

    by camband

    Wednesday, October 24 2012, 12:41PM

    “OK sunshine, I'm not going to trawl through all the gobbledegook you've put on this thread -and knowing I have answered all and any questions related to the story -if you've forgot what my answer was, and are so concerned with your question, which appears, from all your moaning to be central to the question of who pays the fine -the Police out of a sense of guilt, or the Mr Choudry -why don't you put the question to me again, or are you afraid of what my answer will be?”

  • Profile image for mykidsfuture

    by mykidsfuture

    Wednesday, October 24 2012, 7:58AM

    “by camband
    ."So easily upset son. If you don't like the heat -stay out of the kitchen. Proper little snotty nose kids future are we now, calling me dreadful names and trying to come the little bully boy. Oh deary deary me... OK, I'll leave you and Mr Choudry to sort it all out and get the Police off the hook."

    Typical of you, where have I called you a "dreadfull name"? Reading things that aren't actually there, I note you still haven't answered my question. Which I suppose just goes to confirm everything that arthurheath1 comments about you is right. It will take more than you to upset me, it's just a case of I can't be bothered with silly people like you that can't distinguish fact from fiction.”

  • Profile image for camband

    by camband

    Tuesday, October 23 2012, 11:11PM

    “So easily upset son. If you don't like the heat -stay out of the kitchen. Proper little snotty nose kids future are we now, calling me dreadful names and trying to come the little bully boy. Oh deary deary me... OK, I'll leave you and Mr Choudry to sort it all out and get the Police off the hook.”

  • Profile image for mykidsfuture

    by mykidsfuture

    Tuesday, October 23 2012, 8:22AM

    “Yes Tabazan I would agree to your comment.

    Camband you really do not have any concept of the Road Traffic Act 1974 at all do you. I cannot be bothered with you at all now as you are repeating yourself, and unlike Tabazan, you can't or won't answer a simple question. So be off with you back to your own silly little World where reality or fact plays no part.”

  • Profile image for camband

    by camband

    Monday, October 22 2012, 11:03PM

    “arthur, that was your last post on the matter? So at last you have decided to put us all out of our misery -the annoying inconsistencies have been a cross to bear. Now read no further arthur, 'cos although you have made a 'declaration of intent' not to say another word on the issue, knowing you as we do -from old, (and the inconsistencies I mention), you have not said you will not 'stay with the thread' -as a reader, and we know too of your depth of curiosity will keep you 'glancing over your shoulder' at what the rest of us have to say -'about you' -besides the more important things still perhaps that will still come up for a few days yet ....?

    Now, where was I? Oh yes, a couple of things from arthur's 'valedictory' last words on the subject need addressing.

    Quote: "Firstly, the police almost certainly DID NOT instruct him to park his taxi in the bay". Unquote.
    'almost certainly' is not good enough arthur. And then there's also this arthur, (quote) - "Secondly, he was not on police business at all, he was reporting an incident to the police, but you could hardly claim he was in the employ of them". Unquote.

    You are making it up as you go along arthur, making your own contemporaneous notes -figments of your imaginings. He wasn't 'reporting an incident'.
    How many times has this part been discussed -contained clearly in the Sentinel Report. The incident had already been reported and the Police then took it upon themselves to 'invite him' to take his taxi to the Police Station because they wanted it to 'undergo a forensic examination'.
    And who's 'claiming he was in their employ arthur? Another of your figments of imagination.

    All this just goes to show that arthur is mad as hell that the taxi driver -an Asian taxi driver, is standing up for his rights, and, getting the support of the Police -who can see in this instance, an injustice being perpetrated by the Council in Merrial St -and the latter who, at the same time are ignoring their genuine concern that indeed an injustice IS being instigated much to their obvious annoyance. The Police are in effect being snubbed... for they do feel a sense of shame -that is also obvious.
    No arthur, Mr Choudary will not have to 'pay up' as you demand, if shove comes to push I think the Police will pay it for him out of 'Police Funds'... if only to unburden themselves on being 'implicated' -by the actions of the insistence of the Council.

    There's no love lost here between the two respective authorities -and that disharmony is not good for community relations in the wider world. It leaves them both looking a little shabby to say the least if Mr Choudary finishes up in a 'doorstep battle with the Bailiffs'.”

  • Profile image for arthurheath1

    by arthurheath1

    Monday, October 22 2012, 7:28PM

    “That was my last post on the matter.”

  • Profile image for arthurheath1

    by arthurheath1

    Monday, October 22 2012, 7:15PM

    “@Redtone

    Ands the award for the biggest stretch of the facts goes to Redtone.

    "Mr Choudhry's car had been vandalised and the police instructed him to park it in the bay in order to examine it. To all intents and purposes it was on police business"

    Firstly, the police almost certainly DID NOT instruct him to park his taxi in the bay. It's such a pity that Mr Chaudry didn't take a copy of the handwritten note that he claims the police wrote for him. That way, what he is saying could be corroborated, but even if it was, he still broke the regulations, and as such, has no get out clause.
    Secondly, he was not on police business at all, he was reporting an incident to the police, but you could hardly claim he was in the employ of them.
    Pay up Mr Chaudry, and stop your belly aching.”

  • Profile image for camband

    by camband

    Monday, October 22 2012, 4:42PM

    “@ Tabazan (below his comment to 'mykidsfuture')
    Quote: -"It's one thing to express an opinion mykidsfuture, but when the same person has polar opposite attitudes for two almost identical situations, then allegations of bigotry, hypocrisy and deceit are sure to follow, and it is the right of other people to point out and question these anomalies.

    Wouldn't you agree?" Unquote.

    He probably would have to agree -and almost certainly, in his heart of heart -does. But he won't admit it publicly on here. Not in his nature.”

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