A driver is warning other travellers to be careful after she was fined £100 for stopping her in a car for two minutes at Bristol Airport.
Nancy Connolly, a reporter at Somerset Live, said "cameras are everywhere" and that the company that runs the car parks "mean business" after she was hit with the penalty.
She said her flight only cost £20, which made the fine feel particularly steep, GloucestershireLive reports.
Her warning comes as thousands get ready to travel this Easter holiday, with many planning to go abroad after most coronavirus restrictions were eased.
Nancy - who acknowledges there were signs and she made a mistake - was flying to her hometown of Dublin for a long-awaited family reunion following the death of her mother during a Covid lockdown.
It was the first time she and her family could have a celebration and family meal.
She said her friend had offered to drop her off at the airport at around 11am on Saturday, March 19.
The pair drove to the airport in Nancy’s from her home in Bath.
She said: “When we got to the entrance I stopped to hand over the driving to my friend, I got out of the car briefly so she could take over and that's when the cameras spotted me."
The car parks at Bristol Airport are operated by an outside company called Vehicle Control Services.The drop and go car park is designed for stays of up to £10, with prices starting from £5 for 10 minutes.
She said that in the past drivers could pull up outside an airport terminal and drop someone off without being fined.
Nancy gave a final warning to other drivers, saying: “I get it, I was wrong to stop where I did, or to stop at all, and there are signs. It is just good to be forewarned as the charges are very heavy.
“We appreciate the airport needs to make money after the pandemic which was devastating to its business.
“I just want to warn people who may not have travelled in a while there are big changes afoot in the friendly little airport where it was always such a joy to begin your holiday.
“So don't stop, even for a minute or two. You are on camera and they are watching you.”
