Bank Holiday drivers warned to act quickly over parking fines

Drivers face Bank Holiday parking warning as millions travel

Drivers warned to act quickly before Bank Holiday parking Millions of motorists are expected to take to the roads this Bank Holiday weekend, with drivers being urged to check parking rules carefully before leaving their vehicles. The Competition and Markets Authority has warned that hundreds of thousands of drivers will be on the roads as summer draws to a close, while the RAC expects around 20 million leisure trips over the weekend. For many motorists, the journey will also involve stopping at a car park, whether they are visiting a destination, shopping or taking a break during their trip. However, drivers have been warned that assuming parking rules are the same everywhere could leave them facing an unexpected parking charge. Parking rules can vary between car parks Consumer expert Emma Cochrane warned that motorists should not assume every car park operates under the same conditions. She pointed out that even car parks belonging to the same supermarket chain can have different rules, meaning drivers should check the signs and requirements before leaving their vehicle. Some car parks may offer free parking but still require motorists to enter their vehicle details or validate their stay. Failing to complete those steps could result in a charge. Drivers have also been advised to keep evidence if something goes wrong while they are parked. If a payment machine is not working, a vehicle breaks down or another problem prevents a driver from following the normal process, motorists should take photographs and keep any relevant receipts. That evidence could become important if the driver later needs to challenge a parking charge. Drivers may be able to challenge a ticket Motorists who receive a council-issued Penalty Charge Notice in England or Wales will typically have 28 days to challenge it, according to GOV.UK. Potential grounds for challenging a ticket can include unclear or missing parking signs, a broken payment machine or other genuine mitigating circumstances. With large numbers of people expected to travel during the Bank Holiday weekend, drivers could face busy car parks and increased pressure when looking for somewhere to park. Taking a moment to read the signs and understand the parking requirements could therefore help motorists avoid an unwanted charge. For anyone who does receive a parking ticket, keeping photographs, receipts and other relevant evidence could prove useful when deciding whether there are grounds to challenge it.