PCN for doing a U-turn on private road at airport

includemeout

I made an incorrect turn at LBA and ended up at the barrier into the drop-off/pick-up area where there's a £5 charge to leave. I didn't have my wallet with me so was concerned about getting stuck in there and was also mindful that I can't stop on the road in question due to double red lines, so I immediately threw a U-turn as the road was empty. Of course I then drove the wrong way down the one way road for c. 15-20 metres.

No point arguing over the rights or wrongs of this. I made a mistake, mixing up the short and mid-stay car parks. But I've now received a penalty notice for stopping even though I never stopped the vehicle. I immediately U-turned, no turn in the road required so no reason to stop.

My concern now is that by appealing the PCN I would be drawing attention to the fact I drove the wrong way up a one way road. Is this an offense on what I believe is a private road? As I left the road I could see a camera covering both lanes.

I suppose my predicament is that I don't believe I should be fined for stopping as my vehicle was never stopped, but would rather deal with that fine than a potentially worse outcome for the U-turn, which I felt was necessary as I didn't have the means to exit the barrier had I entered.

Petriix

I'm fairly certain that 'parking charges' cannot be applied for 'driving offences'.

TooManyPoints

There was a case either here or elsewhere where a driver had been levied a £5 charge for driving through (without stopping) the newly introduced drop-off zone at Gatwick. He refused to pay it and was going to appeal. His argument was that since he had not stopped the charge amounted to a toll and not a parking charge and so was unlawful. I'm not sure if the outcome was known but I'll try to find it.  

includemeout

Petriix said:

I'm fairly certain that 'parking charges' cannot be applied for 'driving offences'.

Thanks. I suppose it feels counterintuitive to appeal a penalty by admitting what would normally be a motoring offensive. I've no idea why they think it's appropriate to fine me for stopping the vehicle when it was never stationary, but I know of people receiving PCNs for just pulling over there for a few seconds to get their bearings, confused by the road layout.

Thrugelmir

includemeout said:

Petriix said:

I'm fairly certain that 'parking charges' cannot be applied for 'driving offences'.

but I know of people receiving PCNs for just pulling over there for a few seconds to get their bearings, confused by the road layout.

Why would people be aimlessly driving around airport roads? 

Ant555

Thrugelmir said:

Why would people be aimlessly driving around airport roads? 

If you are an infrequent airport user, are mindful of the charges for simply straying into the wrong zone, fines for stopping for 5 seconds and are trying to read and understand the dozens of signs then its quite easy to appear to be 'aimlessly' driving around looking for the correct car park or drop off.

I had to pay to drop someone off at the train station at the local airport - Sign at the roundabout said 'Rail Drop Off' but it was still a chargeable zone as I had to pay to exit so someone accidentally taking the wrong turn at that roundabout would have to pay simply to continue their journey.

Manchester Airport is like a military base with cameras, mobile vans and hi vis literally everywhere on the lookout for the slightest infraction from cars.

daveyjp

'Penalty charge' and 'private road', its one or the other and its important to clarify who issued it.  Airport or Council?

LBA approach roads are red routes and a Traffic Regulation Order is in force for no stopping, but the extent of the adopted highway does not cover airport access roads, so the TRO can't be enforced by the Council on those roads.

Its not about 'aimlessly driving around the airport'.  LBA has three access points off a single main road.  An entrance for staff, entry to the terminal and drop off/meet and greet, taxis etc and a further entrance for 1 hour free long stay car park.

None of the signs on the public highway indicate there is a charge for dropping off in the terminal area, so if you have no means of payment you have a problem if you enter the short stay area as there is no 'escape' once you enter the one way road into the car park.  The road is also laid out to prioritise access to the payable parking area.

Belenus

It is easy to make a mistake when driving along unfamiliar roads. I once ended up in Mexico by accident.  

We were on a driving holiday in California in 1992 and we were heading south to southern San Diego. I somehow missed a turning and found myself in a three or four lane queue to cross the border. A 'U' turn was out of the question so I had to cross the border, paying a toll of about 5 dollars from memory, find somewhere to turn around and drive back into the USA. I can't remember if I had to pay another border toll.

Jenni_D

Who has sent the PCN? I suspect it was someone like VCS, which means it's an invoice for an alleged breach of contract rather than a Penalty notice.

If it is a Parking Charge Notice then ask a Board Guide to move this to the Parking board.

includemeout

TooManyPoints said:

There was a case either here or elsewhere where a driver had been levied a £5 charge for driving through (without stopping) the newly introduced drop-off zone at Gatwick. He refused to pay it and was going to appeal. His argument was that since he had not stopped the charge amounted to a toll and not a parking charge and so was unlawful. I'm not sure if the outcome was known but I'll try to find it.  

Perhaps this is what I should have done, but there are barriers so my concern was getting stuck for a lengthy period. It's very difficult to make an assessment when you're driving in a red zone where you're unable to stop to consider the options. I hadn't previously driven here and there are no signs stating that there's a fee for the meet and greet area until you actually reach the barrier, on a one way road. The entrance is shared with what they call "Terminal Front Express Parking" for which there's a sign regarding the minimum £3 charge, but nothing at all about the £5 charge that will be levied for entering/exiting. The signage is frankly very confusing and appears intended to trip people up.

Ant555 and daveyjp both describe the situation well.

Jenni_D said:

Who has sent the PCN? I suspect it was someone like VCS, which means it's an invoice for an alleged breach of contract rather than a Penalty notice.

If it is a Parking Charge Notice then ask a Board Guide to move this to the Parking board.

Ah, I'll take another look but I'm now thinking that I got a parking charge notice dressed up as a penalty! I'm a bit bemused about how they've been able to issue this to me, given that it's been sent in the post rather than issued on site.

I didn't post it on the parking board because it's the potential driving offense I was more worried about (regarding the driving the wrong way out of the one way), but please feel free to move if necessary.

Thanks all.

includemeout

Belenus said:

It is easy to make a mistake when driving along unfamiliar roads. I once ended up in Mexico by accident.  

We were on a driving holiday in California in 1992 and we were heading south to southern San Diego. I somehow missed a turning and found myself in a three or four lane queue to cross the border. A 'U' turn was out of the question so I had to cross the border, paying a toll of about 5 dollars from memory, find somewhere to turn around and drive back into the USA. I can't remember if I had to pay another border toll.

I wouldn't be surprised if people do this now just to say they've been to Mexico and tick something off their "bucket list".

I once accidentally ended up in Poland instead of on a train to the airport in Berlin. They couldn't stop the train because it was an express so had to make up time in advance to be able to drop me at a tiny village station where the platform was too low for me to get off without jumping four feet. Drink was involved.