More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Motorists beware: You might be given no time to pay for parking before you are slapped with a fine.
A Kent council has admitted it does not offer a period of grace at any of its car parks – even while drivers are paying for a ticket.
Robert Payne was hit with a £50 fine as he fed money into a Maidstone pay and display machine just yards from where a parking attendant was issuing his ticket.
The enforcement officer slapped a penalty notice on Mr Payne's vehicle in Medway Street, in Maidstone town centre – as he was walking back to the car with a valid ticket.
The 48-year-old, from Maidstone, said: "The warden saw me at the machine. I put my money in the machine, took my ticket and started to walk back to my car.
"That's when I saw him put the charge notice on my window.
"I called out, but was met with the usual 'too late, I've issued the ticket, you’ll have to appeal’. Despite my saying he had seen me at the meter – a point with which he agreed – and that I had a valid ticket – again he also agreed – he would do nothing to help."
Mr Payne lodged an appeal with Maidstone Borough Council's contracted agency, APCOA Parking UK.
The council has now written to Mr Payne to say it has revoked the £50 fine and will not be taking any further action.
Mr Payne said: "The council may have waived the fine, but that's not the point. I was under the impression that you are allowed a period of grace to buy a ticket but this warden pounced at the first opportunity."
A Maidstone council spokesman said the warden did not see Mr Payne and that no grace period is given at any of the authority's car parks.
She said: "Our civil enforcement officers always check whether someone is at the pay and display machine nearest to the vehicle before issuing a ticket.
"Unfortunately in this case, the gentleman was at an alternative machine out of sight of the enforcement officer, and the penalty notice was issued before he returned to his car.
"Our officer explained the appeal process and ensured that a photograph was taken of the pay and display ticket purchased.
"This allowed the penalty charge notice to be waived as part of the appeals process."
