Couple fined £100 for leaving Dorset car park in October 2024
- A couple, Steve Cottrell and his partner Joy, faced a £100 fine after spending a total of six minutes in a car park in Dorset.
- They attempted to pay for parking but found the payment system malfunctioned and decided to leave.
- Despite appeals to various officials, they initially faced rejection but eventually had the charge canceled as a goodwill gesture.
The incident unfolded while Steve Cottrell, aged 63, and his 56-year-old partner Joy were on holiday in Dorset, England. They entered a car park with hopes of finding a space but were deterred by a broken contactless payment machine, leading them to leave after six minutes. The couple was surprised to receive a £100 parking fine after exceeding the five-minute grace period by just over a minute. Steve Cottrell expressed his disbelief over the situation, likening the experience to being 'mugged.' In search of clarity and resolution, he reached out to local MPs and even included the Prime Minister in his communications following the rejection of their initial appeal. The parking company, Parkingeye, stated that there was insufficient evidence of a malfunctioning payment machine and claimed that the couple failed to provide adequate reasons for their short parking duration. Although they faced a tough stance from the parking authority and an upheld appeal through the independent POPLA service, the couple remained determined to contest the fine. Eventually, after three months of back-and-forth, Parkingeye decided to cancel the charge as a gesture of goodwill. Ultimately, this experience highlighted the complexities and frustrations motorists can encounter with parking regulations and the stringent enforcement policies that govern them.