Driver fined £100 for 32-second stop on red lines

Dave Turner stopped to read the terms and conditions on a sign for a total of 32 seconds

A driver has been fined £100 for stopping on double red lines in a car park for 32 seconds.

At the end of last month, Dave Turner, from Bamber Bridge, pulled in to the car park at Capitol Centre retail park, off London Way, Walton-le-Dale, to drop off his wife in front of the shops, as it was raining heavily.

"I noticed the red lines and a parking notice sign, so I read it and thought I'd better move off," he said. "I drove round until she came out, picked her up and left."

The car park owners said the lines, which a legal expert said were not legally enforceable, were introduced for the safety of pedestrians.

Legal expert Gary Rycroft described the situation as "absolutely ludicrous"

Mr Turner said: "We came back from holiday to find I'd got a letter with a fine for £100. I was amazed.

"I'd never noticed the lines before. I did stop on them, but when I did notice it I moved off.

"I've put an appeal in, so I'm just waiting to see what the outcome is."

But legal expert Gary Rycroft called the situation "absolutely ludicrous".

"And let's just be clear, this is not legally enforceable," he said.

"They'd be laughed out of court for trying to charge someone a hundred quid for just stopping for 32 seconds.

Dave Turner said he stopped to drop off his wife in front of the shops as it was raining heavily

"On private land, you can put double yellow lines down - you can put whatever lines you want down - but they actually have no legal force, because they only work on the public highway."

He said Mr Turner "did as he was told" and moved on after reading the terms and conditions on the sign.

"Even if he loses his appeal, they've still got to prove their case in court," he said. "And it would absolutely be thrown out."

A spokesman for British Land, who own the car park, said since the red lines were introduced the area has become safer for pedestrians, and signage clearly warns people they cannot stop on the double red lines or they may be fined.

British Land said since the red lines were introduced the area has become safer for pedestrians