Mum slams 'ridiculous' £100 fine for parking car two inches over white line

A mum says she has successfully challenged a "ridiculous" £100 parking fine after she left her car just two inches over a white line. Lisa Henderson, 56, parked her Mini at a NCP car park in Newark, Nottingham, on August 9.

She paid £1.95 for an hour but departed after 30 minutes before driving home. The coffee shop worker was shocked when she received a fine two weeks later, hitting her with a £100 penalty. The letter included photographs of Lisa's Mini with the front tyre slightly crossing the painted white line of the parking bay, reports Lancs Live.

The mum-of-two raged: "If I'd parked in a disabled bay, if I'd parked inconsiderately or where I shouldn't have, then absolutely, I would understand the fine. But I just can't understand why I was fined.

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"I work hard. I'm on minimum wage, and I just couldn't bring myself to pay it. From the side, you can see very clearly that I'm barely on the line. I would say it's no more than one or two inches over."

"Also, the space to the side of my car isn't a parking space, there's a column at the side of it," she added. "It's not like I'm preventing somebody else from parking there."

She lodged an appeal with NCP, which operates the car park, and the company agreed to overturn the fine. Lisa said: "I feel relieved but a little bit annoyed at the same time, because it was just ridiculous.

"When I first received the letter I thought it was a joke. I couldn't believe it was genuine." The company stated the notice was properly issued as the motor was in 'breach of the Terms and Conditions of Parking'.

NCP spokesperson Michelle McCarthy said: "We do have to be careful with cars being parked over designated bay lines as this can really impact other customers parking in our car parks. But, having looked at the image, we agree to cancel this parking charge with immediate effect and offer our sincere apologies."

Are you allowed to park on white bay markings in a car park?

Parking on the white bay markings in a car park is forbidden; you must ensure your motor is entirely within the designated bay to avoid receiving a parking ticket or penalty. The white markings show the specific parking spaces, and if you park on or across these markings, even slightly, it is considered incorrect parking and could result in a penalty charge.

Parking outside the specified bays, including on the markings, may lead to a parking ticket or a Parking Charge Notice. If your motor is too big to fit within a designated bay, you should find an alternative space where it can be parked entirely within the white markings. Always look for additional signs or instructions in the car park, as these can provide more detailed rules for parking in particular bays or areas.