Parking fine dropped over 'worn' line

The yellow line did not comply with regulations

A motorist who was fined for parking on a yellow line has had the penalty dropped after discovering a loophole.

Suzanne Elkin, from Crystal Palace, south London, challenged Croydon Council after realising the yellow line she had parked on did not have a 'T-bar' on the end.

The Independent Appeals Service agreed with Mrs Elkin saying that the line did not comply with regulations.

It ordered the council to drop the fine - a decision which could pave the way for similar claims.

Suzanne Elkin encouraged others to challenge fines

Mrs Elkin said: "If we have to abide by the law, so should the councils that put all these yellow lines, markings and traffic regulations down."

She added: "Croydon Council was making my life quite difficult and insisting that I had to pay this penalty charge notice.

"It is intimidating to go through the process of appeal but sometimes we do feel that we have the right to appeal and the whole legal process is stacked against us."

A spokesman for Croydon Council said: "Double yellow lines are painted on to roads for a reason, whether it be for safety or ease of access, and we encourage motorists not to park on them.

"We carry out regular checks and maintenance on yellow lines in the borough. When we find disrupted lines we act to rectify the problem.

"In this case the end of the lines had been worn away, we are in the process of repainting them."