I was slapped with £100 fine for letting my wife out of car to use toilet while stopped at red light – I’ve been bullied
A DRIVER has told how he was slapped with a £100 fine for letting his wife out of the car at a red light at Bristol Airport.
Christian’s wife hopped out at a zebra crossing to use the bathroom before he paid for parking.
Despite being aware of signs saying there was to be no stopping at any time to pick up or drop off, but feels that “it is a ploy to get people to pay”.
Christian, who didn’t want to give his surname, drove to Bristol Airport to pick up his mother-in-law and is now in dispute with enforcement company VCN as he feels that it has disregarded everything that he has said.
He said: “On the way in, my wife said she was bursting to use the toilet. The parking is now a long way from the building due to the parking construction which is ongoing.
“We came to a zebra crossing which had temporary lights on it and it was red.
“I saw no harm in allowing my wife to get out and run into the toilets.
“I still later paid for parking and I was slapped with a £100 fine for stopping and dropping off.
“Signs stated no stopping at any time to drop off or pick up. I think this is so that customers are forced to pay the prices at the airport.”
Christian appealed the fine and feels that it is “shameful” of VCN to have disregarded his complaints.
He added: “When I appealed and stated that I had to stop, they then changed the argument to that I couldn’t drop off as it was not safe to do so. It was a zebra crossing, therefore a safe place to stop.
“This feels like bullying tactics by VCN to try and take money. I understand that people are trying to avoid paying for parking but this was not my intention, it was simply to allow my wife to use the toilets in the main building.
“I feel annoyed by VCN. I feel this is shameful.”
It is the second complaint by drivers going to Bristol Airport within a matter of days, with one woman being fined for stopping for 33 seconds.
Bristol Airport said at the time: “Last summer, we began work on our £60m Public Transport Interchange and multi-storey car park. During the project, we’ve temporarily relocated some car parks.
“All of the internal roadways at the airport have experienced a longstanding issue with vehicles stopping in unsafe areas.
How to appeal a parking ticket
When you receive a parking ticket the notice will usually provide a window in which you can appeal it and some detail on how to do so.
If the fine is from a council, it will have a dedicated appeals service which should be accessible online or by email or post.
If you appeal within the given window (usually 28 days) the council will then consider your appeal and issue a response.
In the event that you are still dissatisfied with the outcome, you can take it to an independent tribunal, though this can take months.
Just be cautious as most fines include a discount for early payment, which you may miss out on while your appeal is considered.
As for private parking fines, it’s a little more complicated.
Like with councils you can appeal directly to the company that issued the fine.
However, if you are rejected, there is no tribunal to go to.
Instead, you will have to find out which independent appeals service the company you’re dealing with is a part of and submit your complaint to them.
The only thing to note is that the appeals services are often funded by the parking companies themselves.
Check out our exclusive video with the Secret Traffic Warden to find out three major reasons to appeal your ticket.
“This poses a high risk to the safety of our customers, colleagues and business partners and causes delay and congestion to other road users.
“Signs across the site further underline the message to all customers.
“Drivers breaking the rules may face charges which will be enforced through a combination of fixed cameras and mobile patrols, and when the evidence clearly shows customers stopping on double red lines or in clearly unsafe areas.”
VCN has been contacted for comment.