A motorist has said it is a 'matter of principle' as he declared he would rather go to jail than pay the remainder of a parking fine he received in Skegness. Neil Dubnyckyj had travelled to the Lincolnshire resort in October last year to celebrate his 65th birthday.
The carpet shop owner had planned to stay overnight in a motorhome with his grandson, Lincolnshire Live reports. However, the carpet shop owner did not realise that he had temporarily parked illegally and was susequently hit with a £35 fine.
Mr Dubnyckyj admits he was in the wrong, but argues he should not have to pay the full £35, because he had already paid £8 on a pay and display. This, however, has not washed with the council which has since doubled the fine to £70. Mr Dubnyckyj said he would go to jail before paying the £8.
Read more: Live Nottingham city centre updates as multiple roads closed after attacks
He said: "On my 65th birthday on October 9, I took it upon myself to get my motorhome out and go to Skegness with my grandson. We got to Skegness at around noon and we started to get hungry.
"We could not find anywhere to park [at first] so we parked on this wasteland area, and I paid £8 [on the pay and display.] We went out and had lunch and came back and got a £35 fine - which was fine, I had made a mistake.
"I paid the £27 difference because they had already had the £8." Mr Dubnyckyj refused to pay the £8 and so East Lindsey District Council doubled the fine to £70 and has taken him to court.
Mr Dubnyckyj added: "It has now become a matter of principle. Had I not paid the £8 I still would have got a £35 fine. I thought there is no way I will pay it. I will go to court and go to jail before I pay it.
"They've already had their £8." A letter addressed to Mr Dubnyckyj from the adjudicator, said his argument is "misconceived."
It read: "The payment of £8 he made was for a pay and display ticket for the car park; it was not payment of the penalty charge. Mr D cannot offset the payment for that ticket against the penalty charge, notwithstanding that purchasing the ticket was redundant because he not permitted to park his campervan in the car park.
"He should not have paid the £8 for a pay and display ticket because he was not entitled to park his campervan there. Mr D's mistake does not entitle him to transfer that payment to the penalty charge."
A spokesman for East Lindsey District Council said the matter had been passed on to an external body as part of the appeal process.
Read next:
Death notices and funeral announcements from Nottingham Post this week
New shop and cafe with a giant tiger opens in Nottingham city centre
Life in one of Nottinghamshire's safest villages where children play 'without trouble'
Large group of travellers pitch up at popular Notts park
The lost origins of Nottingham's Rock City - from Royal visits to an ice rink
