Drivers face £100 fine for breaking ‘unjust two-minute’ rule

A motorist has been hit with a £100 fine for accidentally parking in the wrong area for just over two minutes. The driver parked outside a clothing store to visit a local shop but was told by a shopkeeper they were not allowed to stop there.

The motorist returned to their vehicle and moved their car but was stunned to find a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) from Euro Parking Services (EPS) in the post just a week later. The letter explained that the driver had been stopped in the wrong location for just two minutes and 24 seconds. The individual quickly appealed against the fine and didn’t receive any further correspondence until weeks later.

However, things quickly got worse, with the penalty later increasing to £100 despite the driver claiming to have not heard back about the appeal decision.

The motorist has now blasted the move as "deeply unjust" and against "common sense”.

They told The Guardian: "I appealed against the fine that day via email and received an automatic acknowledgment. However, I heard nothing more from the company.

"Then, at the start of April, I received a reminder stating that the fine had increased to £100. The letter included a paragraph stating my appeal had been rejected, although I had not been informed of the decision.

“In response, I submitted a second appeal. I am willing to pay the original £60 charge if my appeal is formally rejected, but I strongly object to being charged more when it failed to communicate the result.

"More fundamentally, I believe no one should be fined for stopping for just over two minutes. It feels deeply unjust and contrary to common sense."

After getting in touch with EPS, The Guardian ensured the driver was offered another fortnight to settle their original £60 fee.

Investigations found the parking bays are reserved solely for the customers of the clothing store, with landowners hiring parking firms to manage the site.

There have been concerns that motorists could simply use the parking bays to visit other businesses within the local area.

A study of the site shows there was clear signage highlighting the bays were only for the use of customers.

The parking bay does have a five-minute grace period before charges begin but this is said to end when motorists walk away from their vehicles.

Simon Williams, the RAC’s head of policy, said: "Some parking companies are wrongly demanding 'fines' from drivers who have legitimately paid to park.

"Whether it’s a faulty payment machine that records the wrong vehicle registration or an innocent mistake keying in their number plate, these people shouldn’t have to pay the £100 parking charge notices they are sent.

"Many cases seem completely unjustified and should be thrown out at appeal. But sadly they so often aren’t."