A motorist has been issued a £100 parking charge for touching a white line in a car park, highlighting strict rules that require vehicles to be parked wholly within the bay markings.
Driver fined for touching line
One driver took to Facebook to share that she had received a penalty charge notice after visiting a cinema in Hartlepool. Admitting she had "not parked great as it was a bit of 'dump and go' because of the film was starting", she warned others that she had been given a "£100 fine" for parking on the line.
Sharing an image showing her front driver's side tyre touching halfway across the bay marking, though not crossing it completely, she explained: "Parked here a few weeks ago, and got a £100 fine for this!"
What the rules mean
In a reply to her challenge, Viking Solutions, which issued the charge, stated: "The photographs taken of the vehicle by the Viking Solutions warden clearly show that it was not parked in a single marked parking bay". It continued: "If a vehicle is parked on the bay marking lines, it is not within the bay."
The majority of car parks have their own regulations, but most stipulate that vehicles must be positioned "wholly within the bay". This means even making contact with a line can result in a penalty, as occurred at the Hartlepool cinema.
Council enforcement
Council-operated car parks typically enforce similar regulations. Gateshead Council has outlined its rules, cautioning: "You must park completely inside the bay markings. If someone else has parked incorrectly, not leaving enough room for you to use the space beside them, you should not use the space unless all of your vehicle can fit inside the bay markings."
It adds: "You cannot use any area that is not marked as a parking bay. Any vehicle parked with at least one wheel outside the bay markings may receive a Penalty Charge Notice." The council states a charge of £50 is issued for breaching this, halved if paid within a discounted period.
Luton Council similarly cautions motorists using its car parks that they can face a £50 penalty, lowered to £25 if paid within 14 days of issue, should they fail to park "correctly within the markings of a bay space".
