many seemingly squeaky-clean companies or state-run organisations have been found guilty of no crimes – yet in some cases sail perilously close to the wind when endeavouring to empty the pockets of unsuspecting car drivers.
They push their luck, adopt iffy pricing and charging procedures, use dubious methods to get every penny they can – or not pay out when they should, which is equally unforgivable. Technically, they’re doing nothing illegal. but that doesn’t make their antics best or morally justifiable, does it?
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• Opinion: ‘Public transport prices amount to legalised theft’
The newest local authority scam is a ideal example of motorists being hit with charges that aren’t unlawful, but ought to be. Councils sell ‘residents parking permits’ to households, despite the number of permits available far outweighing the number of parking bays. Illegal, no. Dishonest, yes.
On a related theme, when councils break in-house guidelines by making their own car park bays too short, isn’t it then attempted robbery (or something similar) to fine a chauffeur whose car unavoidably exceeds the footprint of such a bay? and isn’t fining motorists for ‘speeding’ on roads where the limits are inappropriately low (30mph on dual carriageways, for example) another clear example of cynical, state-sponsored highway robbery?