Parking Notice from APCOA at Luton Airport

Csilla

I have read many other threads but it seems like there is no one who got a so called Parking Enforcement Notice (APCOA) at the Airport Way in Luton.

Here is my case:
One morning I dropped out my friend to the Airport and I stopped for 5 seconds to allow him to get out. I did this several times but never got a notice so far.
This is the entrance of the long term car park, where is plenty space to turn around and come back.

Now I got a letter from APCOA, the contravention is Stopping a vehicle in a No Stopping area.

I wrote them back asking for photographic evidence of the contravention because that time I did not know that there is a new regulation in force and I had the feeling that there must be a mistake. Please read below.

Now the first 14 days are due and don't know what to do.

Should I just ignore them, or pay £40 or £80, who knows how much it will be.

This is what I found on Pepipoo:

QUOTE
"Introduction of Road Safety Enforcement

From 23rd August, an £80 penalty charge will be introduced at London Luton Airport for drivers who stop their vehicles to drop off or pick up passengers on the approach roads, roundabout, or bus lane leading up to the Airport terminal.

The penalty charge will be reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days. This charge will not benefit the Airport financially. It is intended to stop the current practice of drivers picking up or setting down passengers in unauthorised areas, which poses a risk both to the safety of passengers and that of other road users, as well as causing congestion and disruption to traffic. The penalty charge will be strictly enforced with mobile CCTV cameras.

London Luton Airport would like to remind passengers to use the drop off and pick up facilities provided. For those wishing to drop-off immediately outside the terminal, the drop-off zone is conveniently located at a cost of £1 for 10 minutes. Alternatively one hour free parking is provided in the mid term car park for the purposes of drop off and pick up. A free, five minute bus transfer from the mid term car park to the terminal operates every fifteen minutes."

I was not aware of this.

Any suggestion is welcome.

Please help me with your advice.

Thank you.

chexum

I hate that airport, there was a warning posted a couple days ago:

"Luton Airport ANPR 'fines' "
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/36932968#Comment_36932968

They said to ignore it - I have no idea...

Sir_Roger_deLodger

Ignore APCOA, they are operating a scam. This is no different to the hundreds of threads on here about private parking. Have a good read.
As you have contacted them, they will have you down as a potential mug and you may recieve more letters than usual, but just ignore them and they will go away eventually.

taffy056

Its a private parking ticket so ignore, also its actually illegal for them to use the term 'penalty' in their letter to you, or on the signs around the airport, only the council or police can give you penalties for parking, private companies not acting for the council or some railway companies cannot issue them at all!

So IGNORE!

jamac1950

I received a similar "parking enforcement notice" this weekend stating an "alleged " contravention of bus lane . For a living I drive a 44 tonnes artic around the south east and London delivering to a major supermarket. We drivers are trained to avoid bus lanes, hatched crossing areas, illegal turns, weight limits, London night weight bans, weekend LBTS restrictions et al. I believe the letter I received IS A SCAM. So I've decided to put £100 aside in a holiday kitty for next year on the off chance I have to pay the "fine". Should be a good holiday and I won't be flying from Luton!!!

peter_the_piper

jamac1950 wrote: »

I received a similar "parking enforcement notice" this weekend stating an "alleged " contravention of bus lane . For a living I drive a 44 tonnes artic around the south east and London delivering to a major supermarket. We drivers are trained to avoid bus lanes, hatched crossing areas, illegal turns, weight limits, London night weight bans, weekend LBTS restrictions et al. I believe the letter I received IS A SCAM. So I've decided to put £100 aside in a holiday kitty for next year on the off chance I have to pay the "fine". Should be a good holiday and I won't be flying from Luton!!!

Any bus lane infringement needs to be treated with more respect than a parking ticket. Are you sure of the location? Are you sure its from APCOA ?If its anyone else do not ignore but get advice soonest.

Coupon-mad

APCOA do work for some Councils so double-check that the ticket doesn't have a Council logo. Also is it headed up 'Penalty Charge' (real) or 'Parking Charge' (scam)?

jamac1950

The Letter is from APCOA and is entitled "Parking Enforcemant Notice" I am alleged to have contravened 02- Entry into a bus lane which is a "BREACH OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF USE of the airport road infrastucture" . I have spoken with my legal compliance team (The company I drive for is the largest logistics firm in the world) who tell me that they would expect a penalty notice with photographic evidence. In any case I'm in no mood to pay for what I consider to be a frivolous demand.

Thing is...in the late 60's I was a member of the Luton Fire Service and regularly went on "Shouts" to the airport when mostly, I'm glad to say, there were no injuries or fatalities. You could drive almost anywhere on the "airport road infrastructure" or what there was of it and the staff and management were always welcoming and cordial............how things change

trisontana

Of course that "photographic evidence" is a picture of the car, probably not of the driver. As this appears to be a civil matter then they need to go after the driver and not the registered keeper. So just ignore.

peter_the_piper

JAMAC Were you handed a copy of the terms and conditions before you entered the road? Of course not. (Make sure the transport manager is au fait with the fact that apcoa bus lane tickets are not legally enforcible, just like their double yellow lines if you were on company business). nearly posted this for the OP, forgot that someone else was on the same thread.

peter_the_piper

I would love it for everyone to all stop and read any t&c's there are on the signs, it would jam up the road in no time.