Pair fined for queuing to get out of car park

A COUPLE who queued for half an hour to get out of a gridlocked car park were fined £100 for leaving late.

Donna and Darren Jacques returned to their car with time to spare but were unable to get out in time because of the traffic. They appealed but the fine was upheld because they were “still using the car park”. The parking regulator said they should have bought a new ticket to cover queuing time.

Mrs Jacques said: “We have never disputed we were half an hour late, but you don’t pay to sit in a car park. It feels like they’re pushing you as far as they can so you will just give up and pay.”

Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham called for action on parking companies after receiving several complaints from constituents.

Parkingeye has since cancelled the Jacques’ fine as a “gesture of goodwill”.