Gosport car dealer fined thousands for unpaid parking tickets

Dougie Goodwin, who runs a car sales and repair business from Park Street, Gosport, was ordered to pay more than £3,200 after repeatedly using public car parks in the town to store his vehicles between November 2014 and May 2016.

After refusing to pay the tickets, Goodwin was taken to court by Gosport Borough Council, where he pleaded guilty to 12 breaches of the council’s off-street parking order.

Goodwin, of Franklin Road, Gosport, did not attend the hearing, deciding instead to enter his pleas via e-mail from his solicitors.

Councillor Graham Burgess, chairman of the borough council’s community board said: ‘No-one likes getting a parking ticket. If people have legitimate concerns they can appeal but simply not paying it is only going to cost you more in the long run.

‘Mr Goodwin was a persistent offender, taking up public parking spaces other people could have used.

‘I’m pleased the court viewed this matter as seriously we do.’

Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court fined him £1,200 plus £780 in compensation, a £1,000 in court costs and a £240 victim surcharge.

Councillor Mark Hook, leader of the borough council said that the case was not a rare issue in the town, stating it was becoming a ‘prevalent problem’.

He said: ‘We will absolutely not tolerate businesses parking their vehicles and leaving them for long periods without paying them. It is a prevalent problem.

‘We will be working with the police and our officers to crack down on those who are negating the rules as this is a serious issue that is affecting the livelihoods of our businesses. I frequently get calls on this from residents and it is about time it was put to an end.’