Motorway Service Area Parking Penalty

I parked in Birchanger services for 3 hours and 2 minutes instead of the 2 hours allowed. I fell asleep in the car after parking at 7.52am as I had started work at 3.30am that morning. I then went in and had breakfast and by the time I left it was 10.54. I have received a penalty charge notice asking for £100 or £60 if paid within 14 days from 28/06/15.

The parking company concerned is Parkingeye and I am wondering if it is worth challenging the charge. I have no real grounds for doing this as they have provided photographic evidence that the vehicle was parked for more than two hours.

Any advice gratefully received. Many thanks, Andrew Kelsey

Asked on 6 June 2015 by andrewbrazil

Answered by Honest John

Unfortunately the Law Lords in the Court of Appeal ruled on 23rd April that this type of charge is a wholly reasonable penalty for exceeding the free time allowed to park. They took no account of the government message 'Tiredness can kill. Take a break' and the endangerment to life by service area operators preventing drivers from doing this because that is not what they were asked to rule on. So the only way common sense can prevail is for the government to change the law or for the Law Lords in the Supreme Court to rule that it is not reasonable to restrict parking in motorway service areas to a mere 2 hours. As it is, you are legally obliged to pay the outrageous ParkingEye penalty

Tags: legal issues

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