A British woman has issued a warning to holidaymakers after being fined in Thailand for parking the wrong way. Janelle Brown was parked near a beach in Phuket when she received a 2,000 baht penalty, with her wheel also clamped.
Miss Brown, who runs an online marketing agency and a beauty salon in Phuket, said she had been unaware of the rule. "I was confused as to why I was fined," she said. "The office explained that it is a law but not something that's usually enforced. I wasn't aware that Thailand had this rule."
The incident took place when she parked across the road from the beach. "It was the only parking space on the road," she said. "The fine was 2,000 baht and my wheel was clamped. I had to go to the police station to pay the fine."
She has now advised Britons to check local rules before renting a car. "Driving abroad means there's different rules than what there is in the UK. But apparently this is also a law in the UK – but not one that people usually get fined for," she said.
In the UK, Highway Code rule 239 states: "Do not park facing against the traffic flow." Breaking this rule can result in penalties ranging from a £1,000 fine up to disqualification and imprisonment, depending on the specific violation.
