 A 75-year-old was handed a £255 fine after he stopped to read a car park sign for 'under a minute'. Andy Smith had driven two friends to East Midlands Airport as they were due to fly the following day. He had planned to check in their baggage the night before and stay in the Leonardo Hotel to save time. Mr Smith, who lives in Sheffield, entered the airport drop-off zone around 5pm in January this year and paid the £5 drop-off fee. This meant his friend Derek Sleath, 75, could take his and his wife's luggage to the airport to check it in. The 75-year-old then drove from the drop-off zone to the hotel, which is located in the airport grounds, to drop off Derek's wife. As Andy approached the hotel he was unsure of the arrangements for dropping someone off, and saw that there was a barrier blocking the car park. The pensioner wasn't able to read the 'No Stopping' sign, he claims (Picture: BPM Media) During the approach he said he stopped for less than a minute to read a parking sign, which proved difficult due to it being dark and rainy. Weeks later Andy received a Charge Notice stating he was being fined £100 for stopping on a red line. This then increased to £255 as Andy did not pay and instead tried to appeal it before taking the matter to court. Andy said the situation was 'ridiculous' and that he was 'absolutely staggered' for being charged to 'to read the hotel's notice.' Headded: 'It's outrageous. We have the receipt to show we paid the drop-off fee and a letter from the hotel confirming the booking. 'I've complained to the parking company, used their appeals process, and complained to East Midlands Airport. It all falls on deaf ears.' Mr Smith says he understands that passengers must only be dropped off in the drop-off zone, but he did that, but didn't know the policy for dropping off a hotel guest. East Midlands Airport has cancelled his fine(Picture){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
A 75-year-old was handed a £255 fine after he stopped to read a car park sign for ‘under a minute’.
Andy Smith had driven two friends to East Midlands Airport as they were due to fly the following day.
He had planned to check in their baggage the night before and stay in the Leonardo Hotel to save time.
Mr Smith, who lives in Sheffield, entered the airport drop-off zone around 5pm in January this year and paid the £5 drop-off fee.