Driver handed parking fine over electric car charging issue in Emsworth

A man tried to charge his electric car at South Street car park in Emsworth – but was fined for not parking within the bay.
The electric charger wouldn't quite reach when the car was parked in the bay, Chris Raby saidThe electric charger wouldn't quite reach when the car was parked in the bay, Chris Raby said
The electric charger wouldn't quite reach when the car was parked in the bay, Chris Raby said

Chris Raby from Farnham realised he could not charge his Nissan Leaf while being fully inside the parking bay.

Due to the design of the charging station, the cable was not long enough to reach the plug at the front of the car.

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To remedy this, Mr Raby backed his car out of the bay so the cable would reach only to receive a parking ticket.

Mr Raby's car in the bayMr Raby's car in the bay
Mr Raby's car in the bay

Mr Raby appealed against the ticket on the basis that it was ‘not possible' to park in the bay and charge the car.

Read mroe: {https://www.chichester.co.uk/news/people/chichester-district-council-called-heartless-over-refusal-to-overturn-parking-fine-3325944|Chichester District Council called ‘heartless’ over refusal to overturn parking fine

He said: “I phoned the person and it was quite a difficult conversation, they were completely implacable and they said there's photographic evidence that it’s possible.

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“I said I'll meet you in the parking bay and show you that it’s impossible.

“I haven’t got a ticket for being six of nine inches out of the bay, I got a ticket for just being out of the bay and it’s not possible to charge the car fully inside it.

“I’m hitting this very bureaucratic scenario where it’s not possible to charge your car without getting a parking ticket.

“I feel like there's a complete lack of interest in what I'm saying.”

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In response, Havant Borough Council said: “The council will not comment whilst an appeal is still being considered against a penalty charge notice.

“The council takes public safety seriously, and its parking and traffic management team will always address alleged parking contraventions where identified in the borough, including safely parking within marked bays.”