An Audi driver was caught parking just off the M56 on a hard shoulder ‘waiting for a relative to land’ at Manchester Airport in a desperate and dangerous attempt to dodge a £6 parking fee.
One driver pulled over on the A555 to park up there on the hard shoulder and pick up a relative who was due to land at Manchester Airport yesterday.
But traffic officers spotted them and issued them with a penalty notice - far more expensive than the £6 pick up fee they had tried so hard to evade, The Manchester Evening News reported.
This shocking story is far from a one off offence though and in recent months police have shared numerous pictures of drivers parked up on the hard shoulder of the M56.
North West Motorway Police previously said: "The hard shoulder is not a safe place to be waiting for those coming off flights and when caught it is much more expensive than the airport charges!"
Sharing the picture of the recently spotted driver on Sunday, GMP Traffic wrote: "Hard shoulder offence at the Airport spur.
“M56 motorway regulations in force. Waiting for relative to land at the airport. Various parking areas locally. GFPN issued and advised accordingly."
Current rules mean all drivers picking up or dropping off from the airport have to pull into the designated areas.
There is a free drop off point at JetParks1 where passengers can catch a shuttle to the terminals.
But if dropped off outside the terminals and train station they can pay £5 for five minutes or £6 for ten minutes.
Then, for those being picked up, drivers can either park in the multi-storey car park at Terminal Three or the short stay car park at Terminal One - these cost £6 for 30 minutes.
