A British woman has warned drivers to be aware of parking rules abroad after she was fined for parking the 'wrong way' in Thailand. Janelle Brown received a £45 penalty for parking against the curb, a rule she had never heard of.
Ms Brown, who runs an online marketing agency and a beauty salon in Phuket, said she parked across from the beach as it was the only available space. She was shocked when she returned to find her wheel clamped and a fine of 2,000 baht (£45).
“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.”
She later discovered that a similar rule exists 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 to disqualification and imprisonment, depending on the violation.
Ms Brown advised Brits to check local rules before renting a car abroad. “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 added.
