Bristol woman fined for parking in disabled spot: I couldn't spot markings in the dark

A woman who parked in a faded disabled space which she says was impossible to spot in the dark has been given a £90 fine.

Joanne Lau, 28, went to Aspect Leisure Park, in Longwell Green, to see Valentine's Day at the cinema on February 19, at about 7pm.

But when she returned to her BMW 120 three hours later, she found she had been issued with a parking ticket, stating she had parked in a disabled space.

Miss Lau, of Staple Hill, told the Evening Post that this was the first time she had visited Aspects Leisure Park and she was unfamiliar with the centre and the parking layouts.

The marketing executive said: "As it was dark, there was insufficient lighting in the car park. I parked in what I thought was a normal parking space as there were no signs indicating otherwise, or not that I could see.

"When I came out of the cinema, I found I had been issued a parking ticket by the UKPC stating that I had parked in a disabled space. I was completely distraught and upset because I had no idea the space I was in was a disabled parking space.

"I looked around and there were no signs, until I moved my car out of the space to find a faded disabled sign.

"But the car park was dark and so there was no way I could see that there was a sign on the floor, plus the car park was full so all the other spaces were full of cars, so I could not see that the spaces next to where I had parked were disabled spaces."

UKPC sent Miss Lau a fine letter and an 'evidence photo', which claims to show her parked in a disabled space.

Miss Lau said: "As you can see from the letter, it is impossible to tell that I had parked in a disabled space.

"I would never ever park in a disabled space if I knew it was reserved for disabled people.

"It is not an issue of trying not to pay the fine, but more a principle of being fined unfairly and being charged extortionate fees."

If Miss Lau pays the fine within 14 days, it will be reduced to £45, but she only received the fine letter a week after it was issued.

UKPC was unavailable for comment.