I have looked at the British Parking Association website and examined the appeal. As far as I can see the process is simply decorative, designed to show BPA’s 'caring' side, which we all know it does not possess. The simple fact remains that any excuse given in mitigation is just that; an excuse. "Sorry I was late but I lost track of time" or " There were long queues at the checkout" etc., etc. BPA’s answer will be; hard cheese old son, you’re nicked, £60 please. What kind of excuse would qualify as mitigation for an overstay? Probably only being taken ill, and then of course having to actually prove it. A Doctors' letter or the like, all that trouble to satisfy the BPA (I have a perfect acronym for BPA but it is before the watershed). The simple point is this; is it fair to ask someone to pay upwards of £60 for a short overstay in a free car park? Any sensible person will say no, it is not fair. It is even less fair to be able to pursue innocent registered keepers for the same minor breach of a notional contract. The whole idea is absurd and patently unfair and unjust. The charges are purely to provide the BPA and co with a revenue. Parking on private land where you are not authorised maybe a problem, but it does not require this draconian approach to catch unwary motorists out shopping, to provide a remedy for that. The issues of authorised parking in supermarkets etc., should be entirely separate from unauthorised parking on private land. Obviously, our great and good political masters cannot seem to grasp the situation no matter how many times people lucidly explain. I just wish I got the impression that someone within Government was actually listening and considering a common sense approach to this situation, but I don't. How sad.