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Why am I being issued with a parking ticket for "taking a break"?
After working a 12 hour shift at work I came home to a letter stating on 28 December 2012 I had entered Keele Services at 10.55pm and did not vacate until 29 December at 1.28am. Private Eye state that I had gone over my free two hours parking by 32 minutes and have hit me with a hefty £100 fine, reduced to £60 if paid by the 18 January 2013.
A few days prior, I had travelled up from Cornwall to see my family and friends (a 320 mile trip) and on the 28th I made my journey back to Cornwall. 40 minutes into my journey I felt extremely tired and, considering I had a six-hour journey ahead of me, I felt I had to stop. All I could think about was making it to a service station and resting my eyes. I entered the Keele Services M6 Southbound and slept. Once I awoke, I drove closer to the entrance of the services and entered Keele service station to use the toilet facilities before heading back onto the M6.
A few days prior, I had travelled up from Cornwall to see my family and friends (a 320 mile trip) and on the 28th I made my journey back to Cornwall. 40 minutes into my journey I felt extremely tired and, considering I had a six-hour journey ahead of me, I felt I had to stop. All I could think about was making it to a service station and resting my eyes. I entered the Keele Services M6 Southbound and slept. Once I awoke, I drove closer to the entrance of the services and entered Keele service station to use the toilet facilities before heading back onto the M6.
Asked on 23 February 2013 by JW, St Austell,
Answered by
Honest John
I would allow these cases to go to court. Basically you were obeying Government instructions: "Tirednesss can kill. Take a break". Obviously if you take a break and fall asleep, you may not wake up within the two hours stipulated. I think the two-hour limit is an illegal restriction for drivers who fall asleep in their cars or whose cars are broken down. I think it is only enforceable if people deliberately use motorway service areas to dump vehicles for long periods in order to avoid parking charges elsewhere.
So take the matter to court, and if the judge imposes the penalty then we will run the headline: "Judge fines driver for taking a break". I should add that if this appears it will be my third attempt to bring publicity to this outrageous behaviour by the motorway service area operators. The most recent was on Saturday 5 January.
So take the matter to court, and if the judge imposes the penalty then we will run the headline: "Judge fines driver for taking a break". I should add that if this appears it will be my third attempt to bring publicity to this outrageous behaviour by the motorway service area operators. The most recent was on Saturday 5 January.
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