An elderly couple were fined a whopping £100 after spending six minutes in a car park. Martin Plummer, 70, and his wife Maureen were unable to read the parking meter due to poor lighting - frustrated, the pair drove off.
Martin and Maureen were not the first motorists to be issued a hefty fine at the Dovecot Street car park in Stockton. Terry, 87, and Anne Bonnett, 85, were given a £100 fine in August 2021 when they drove off after discovering the meter did not accept cash.
Mr Plummer spoke to Teesside Live in the hope he can make more motorists aware, he said: "On the evening of February 24, my wife and I parked at Dovecot Street car park at around 8pm. This was the first time we'd used the car park so we were unaware of the costs and methods of payment.
"We managed to pool some change together but due to the bad weather it was quite difficult to read the instructions, it was clear I had to type in my registration plate but the 'P' was completely worn on the machine. I tried the other machine and it was no use - so after being very cold and very frustrated we got back in the car and drove away."
According to the British Parking Association, their code of practice states that a minimum grace period of five minutes should be allowed for the driver to leave the car park should they not decide to park there, Martin driving out of the car park exactly six minutes after arriving.
Martin believes that the £100 fine, reduced to £60 upon prompt payment is 'grossly unfair'. He contacted the parking company which operates in the Stockton car park, Parkingeye, where his appeal of the fine was rejected after two weeks of trying.
He added: "We contacted Parkingeye three times upon our appeal and instead of gambling on another appeal, we decided to pay the £60 so it wouldn't escalate. I feel that to impose a parking charge of £60 for the sake of six minutes is both unreasonable and grossly unfair given the circumstances."
A Parkingeye spokesperson said: “The Dovecot Street car park in Stockton on Tees is monitored by ANPR camera systems and has signage throughout that gives motorists clear guidance on how to use the car park responsibly. Motorists have the option to pay at the machine on site or by phone.
“The motorist parked in the car park on February 24 without paying and therefore received a Parking Charge Notice. However, following a review of the case we have cancelled the PCN as a gesture of goodwill.
“Parkingeye operates a BPA (British Parking Association) audited appeals process, which motorists can use to appeal their Parking Charge Notice. If anyone has mitigating circumstances, we would encourage them to highlight this by appealing to Parkingeye."
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