Drivers can escape £160 parking fine thanks to little known '10 minute' rule

A parking warden has explained how drivers can avoid a parking fine due to a '10 minute' rule. Traffic warden Stacey, from London, reckons a trick can get drivers and motorists out of paying fines of up to £160 in the capital city.

Stacey, aged 33, from Stratford and Canning Town, explained she is not allowed to issue a fine until 10 minutes have passed. This grace period allows the driver to either leave or pay for the correct ticket - avoiding the unwanted fine.

If you arrive before the ticket has been issued, Stacey said you can plead your case, but you should do so politely as it is at the discretion of the operator as to whether they present you the fine. She says if you are forced to stop somewhere with parking restrictions due to a medical emergency, you should be safe from fines.

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Leave a note on the windscreen to explain the situation and if you get a fine, then appeal, ideally with proof of the medical emergency, she goes on to add. Stacey covers the equivalent of 12 miles (25,000 steps) on each patrol and said: "I love the sense of freedom this job brings; walking and meeting different people, being part of the community.

"Yes, I issue tickets, but my task is also to help motorists. It is not fair for those that do pay for their parking, or who have a disability and need a particular space to find their bay is stolen." She added: "We want to avoid conflict situations that are more likely when people see you putting a ticket on a car."

She went on: "It is not causing any obstruction so it’s fine. As long as the front edge of the tyre is on or inside the bay, there’s no reason to issue a ticket. You also have to accept the size of the bay is not huge and the vehicle is parked as well as it can be."