Driver fined £100 for leaving car inches over the white line - in near-empty car park

[dutchman]

John Fannon admits his vehicle was not parked correctly, but insists the fine is harsh



A driver is fuming after receiving a £100 ticket for parking his car inches outside of a marked bay.

John Fannon, 40, was hit with the charge from car parking firm Park Watch during a family shopping trip to Arena Park Shopping Centre in Coventry.

He parked his black Mitsubishi Outlander 4x4 outside the Decathlon store on Tuesday, February 15.

But he was surprised to see a yellow parking charge attached to his windscreen after spending just 30 minutes in the sports shop with his wife and two children.

The reason for the ticket was given as ‘not parked wholly within bay’, but pictures supplied by Mr Fannon appear to show his wheel was just inches outside of the line and that there was a long line of empty spaces next to the vehicle.

Mr Fannon, from Market Harborough, says he regularly makes the trip to Arena Park while visiting family.

But the IT worker says the experience will put him off returning to the retail park in the future.

He said: “We plan to appeal the ticket if we can’t get it sorted out any other way.

“My initial reaction was disbelief. I thought ‘what have I done wrong?’ We have never had a problem there before.

“If we had parked way out of the space when it was busy, it might have been a reason to give a ticket. But the entire row was empty, it doesn’t make sense, it’s silly.

“The level of the fine doesn’t match the misdemeanour.

“There are apparently 150 signs in the car park, but you can’t see any in the photos I’ve taken, they’re obviously positioned in the wrong place - possibly deliberately.

“The experience has definitely put me off going back, we won’t be returning if they’re going to be silly about parking.”

Mr Fannon does accept his vehicle was parked outside of the lines, but insisted he needed room to allow his son and daughter to exit the 4x4 next to nearby metal bollards.

He said: “It was starting to rain, so we parked our car on the end of the row closest to the store, but left room to enable our young children to get out as the space was next to the steel bollards.

“We spent approximately 20 to 30 minutes in store and eventually purchased some football boots and other items for our daughter.”

He added: “I have contacted Decathlon Coventry and the store manager has responded stating that they cannot have the charge cancelled, despite the clear evidence above and the fact that we have long been happy Decathlon customers.”

Mr Fannon said he wanted to make other drivers aware of his issue to enable others to avoid receiving similar fines.

Park Watch has been approached for comment.

[rebbonk]

John Fannon admits his vehicle was not parked correctly...

End of argument!

[dutchman]

Parking firm stands by fine issued to driver who left car inches over white line

The firm which issued a £100 fine to a driver who parked inches outside the lines in a near empty car park doesn’t appear to be backing down over the penalty.

John Fannon, 40, was left fuming after being slapped with the charge when an eagle-eyed traffic warden noticed the rear wheel of his black Mitsubishi Outlander 4x4 was left marginally outside the designated space.

But Park Watch, the company which issued the ticket, appeared unsympathetic to Mr Fannon’s plight when asked by the Telegraph if the firm felt the penalty was unfair.

A spokesman for Park Watch said: “I can confirm that the terms and conditions of parking at the Arena Shopping Park requires users of parking bays to park within the white lines of the parking bay.

“There are in excess of 100 parking information signs from the entrance to the site and within the Arena Car Park displaying the terms and conditions of parking.

“In order to accommodate all visitor vehicles it is imperative that parking correctly within the bays is followed.

“We can confirm that the PCN has been appealed and the appellant will be informed of the outcome of the appeal in due course.”

[rebbonk]

I actually had a look at this today whilst at the Arena.

He could easily have parked properly and not got his children wet or his car doors damaged. Sadly, he's learned an expensive lesson.

[dutchman]

I still dispute the legality of a car park levying so-called 'fines'.

[rebbonk]

They're not fines though are they? They amount to an offer to settle a 'misdemeanor' without going through the courts. He has a choice, pay what they ask, or take his chances that they will take him to court and that they will win. Trouble is, the amount in dispute could escalate quite rapidly if he chooses the latter route.

[Davey]

Here's an article about these private parking tickets.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclai ... ng-tickets

[dutchman]

Here's an article about these private parking tickets.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclai ... ng-tickets

Thanks Davey, very useful!