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Driver's sit-in victory over wardens
Elizabeth Hopkirk, Evening Standard23 Sep 2008
This is the driver who avoided a £250 parking fine by refusing to leave his car for two-and-a-half hours.
Wardens had loaded the BMW 5 Series onto their truck but gave in and lowered it back down after the man claimed to have been asleep in the back seat and would not get out.
Mr Shah, who would not give his first name, later admitted hopping onto the tow truck and into the driver's seat as the attendants looked the other way. The stand-off then ensued in Beaconsfield-Terrace Road,West Kensington-Mr Shah, a 29-year-old personal trainer, said: "It feels like victory. It would have cost me £250 if they had taken it to the pound."
He admitted he was in the wrong but said he had not understood the parking signs near his house when he parked on a single yellow line at 6pm yesterday.
Restrictions end at 7pm. He said: "My neighbours said they'd loaded my car on to the truck so I jumped in and pretended I had been asleep on the back seat.
"I refused to get out and just sat there reading the paper and listening to music for a couple of hours.
"I even ordered a sandwich from the café over the road.
"The police came around and the owner of the tow company arrived but I was stubborn and in the end they got so frustrated they let me go." It is believed Mr Shah still faces the original £60 parking ticket. A spokeswoman for Hammersmith & Fulham council said: "Our civil enforcement officer was simply doing his job but if there is a complaint we will, of course, investigate thoroughly."
Reader views (16)
Now if I ever received a parking ticket from a parking attendent, following the report in the news about Lambeth Council employing illegal immigrants to patrol the streets, I would definitely question the status of the person dishing out penalty tickets etc because it's possible that they might illegally here as well.
- Edwin Sheppard, Pinner UK, 24/09/2008 19:08
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Fines in this country bear no relationship to the offence. A tenner should be the max for parking like this.
- Frederick, London, UK, 24/09/2008 07:39
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With people like Mr Shah in the world, there will always be crooks. Just because you own a high-powered death machine, it does not exclude you from the rules of the road, as laid out in The Highway Code - I suggest Mr Shah reads it!!!
- Jock, London, 24/09/2008 00:47
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The first stone has been cast. We can end the tyranny of clampers by following Mr Shah's example.
- Neil, london uk, Airstrip ONE ., 23/09/2008 16:54
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Good for him. Interesting that the police did not get involved. Worth remembering!.
- Steve, London.co.uk, 23/09/2008 16:27
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A £60 fine is quite sufficient for parking on a yellow line after 6pm on the street near your own home. Picking the car up with undue haste and slapping an extra £250 haulage and storage fee on top is unjustifiable.
- Bloke, London, 23/09/2008 16:06
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Couldn't Mr Shah just have said sorry it worked for George Michael,obviously his crime was much, much, much more serious under new labour i.e. parking as against, carrying crack cocaine and loitering around toilets, but sauce and gander.
- Martin, london, 23/09/2008 15:25
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Well done to him, these people that tow cars away for the council, are unemployable elsewhere.
- P I Staker, london, 23/09/2008 15:22
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Wait just a second here!! So why is it "three cheers for Mr Shah" then? He parks where he shouldnt have, lies about being asleep in the back and gets away with not paying the tow away fine saying he didnt understand the sign?!!
He should be fined for wasting police time. Its idiots like him who cost me the tax payer, more of my hard earned cash. If you dont want to get fined, learn to read English and dont park where you shouldnt. Simple!!
- Jc, London, 23/09/2008 14:34
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>>Our civil enforcement officer
i.e. Stormtrooper?
What is the point in towing or clamping an illegally parked car if it isn't causing an obstruction?
Oh yes, to rip off the motorist.
- Adam, Harrow, UK, 23/09/2008 14:33
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Why 'three cheers' for Mr Shah? He was in the wrong and he should take the hit.
- Chris, London, 23/09/2008 13:57
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Good man.
- Oscar, London, 23/09/2008 13:14
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Glad someone is taking a stand.. Once again the Local council sucking cash anyway they can. desperate fools
- Phil, London, 23/09/2008 13:00
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Good man, and so it begins. Lets take our streets back off of the town hall Nazis.
- Jimbob, Kensington, 23/09/2008 12:49
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They should have taken away his car and charged him for board and lodgings!
- Melvyn, Canvey Island, Essex, 23/09/2008 12:35
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Three cheers for Mr Shah!
- Bloke, London, 23/09/2008 12:09
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