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Can my wife contest a penalty charge issued for overstaying at a motorway service station?

My wife went for a meeting at a motorway service station off the M61. A week later she received a £100 penalty charge from Parking Eye. She had not noticed that a two-hour limit was advertised around the parking area. She overstayed by 32 minutes. The charge was reduced to £60 if she paid it within so many days. What exactly is the law on this sort of thing? It just seems like extortion.

Asked on 8 June 2013 by GPH, Preston

Answered by Honest John
The law is contained within the Protection of Freedoms Act. But she actually abused the parking rules so has no defence for the penalty. You are not allowed to use Motorway Service Areas for the purpose she used this one. See: www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/private-parking-penalties/
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