WATCH OUT

Drivers warned they could be slapped with fine for queueing for a parking space

DRIVERS have been warned that they could be slapped with a fine for queueing for a parking space.

Motorists simply waiting for an empty spot or waiting to charge an electric vehicle could be hit with the charge according to the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP).

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Close up of three parking tickets on the windscreen of a dirty blue car.Credit: Getty

The organisation say that incidents of drivers receiving a penalty charge notice (PCN) were mainly occurring where automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology was in use.

And they noted that it was easy for company car and van drivers to miss signs warning of the maximum free time.

These two factors combined means that drivers need to be aware so they don't get hit with a hefty fine.

A PCN can be up to £70 outside London, and up to £130 in London, according to the AA.

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How you pay a parking ticket or penalty charge notice depends on what type it is and who issued it.

You usually have 28 days to pay. In some cases, the fine is reduced if you pay within 14 days.

AFP chair, Paul Hollick, said: “If there’s a one-hour free limit in an ANPR car park and a driver has to queue for 30 minutes and then connect to the charger for 40 minutes – which is by no means an unusual situation - they’re getting a fine.

“It seems that because they are queueing and not in a parking bay, drivers are forgetting that they are still liable for car park charges.

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that it seems to be sufficiently widespread that drivers should bear in mind the maximum free time in a car park when they are charging.

The AFP chair said: “They’re all part of the learning process of electrification and the AFP is performing an important service for its members by sharing best practice solutions.”

It comes as a man was slapped with a £100 parking fine for queueing at a car wash.

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Meanwhile, another motorist was hit with a fine while waiting for a parking space - even though he had bought a ticket.

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