Having been fined £200 by Haringey Council recently for not having a no smoking sign in a brand new van being driven by a non smoker, I have also had a further £240 of hidden taxes applied to my company to recover a van that had been removed by Westminster Council.... Now, we are not a company which sets out to break the law – we have an excellent health and safety record, all of our taxes are paid on time, all of our employees are vetted before employment and go through on-going training – and if they get fines for speeding or parking, then they have to pay them..however, one of my staff works solely in the Westminster area – he knows all the parking places and has never had a parking fine in the 10 years I have employed him. On this occasion, he turned a corner into Egerton Gardens and saw a parking space next to the Pay and Display machine. There were 4 vehicles parked on the bays in front of him, including 2 Transit vans. There were no restriction signs on the Pay and Display machine, which is what he checked to make sure that he was paying the right amount and at the right time...he paid his £8 for 2 hours and went to carry out his work. On his return...his van had disappeared...towed away to the council compound...having paid for 2 hours parking, he then had to pay the £65 parking ticket fine and a further £175 tow away release fee. I put in an appeal to Westminster on his behalf...it was rejected because there was a sign on a post 5 bays down saying that the end two bays were suspended that day, which was obscured by one of the Transit vans...and honestly, who checks signs that are that far away from the bay? I always check the times on the pay and display machine... as a small company that employs 20 staff this hidden taxation makes me wonder if it is all really worth it...!