An irate driver has been fined £100 for exceeding the parking limit by seven minutes while checking the menu on his phone outside a restaurant. Christian Wolstencroft, aged 52, had stopped at OK Diner in Leominster, Herefordshire, to decide on his lunch when he received a call about his elderly mother being hospitalized. He quickly left for Bolton, Greater Manchester, after packing his belongings.

Surprisingly, two weeks later, Christian received a £100 parking penalty from Smart Parking Ltd, supported by CCTV footage showing his Porsche entering the car park at 3:47 pm on September 30 and leaving 17 minutes later at 4:04 pm. Refusing to pay the fine, Christian criticized the parking company for its lack of empathy.

Christian explained, “I was planning to have a late lunch at OK Diner and checked the menu on my phone upon arrival. However, I had to leave suddenly due to my mother’s emergency. When I received the penalty notice, I was shocked and disappointed by the company’s response, showing no understanding of my situation.”

Since April last year, customers have a ten-minute grace period to park and register their vehicles. Christian’s delay was due to browsing the menu in his car before entering the restaurant, causing him to exceed the grace period by seven minutes.

Smart Parking Ltd defended the penalty, stating it aims to prevent parking abuse and ensure availability for genuine customers. Dafydd Lawrie, the director of OK Diner, highlighted the parking restrictions aimed at managing non-customer parking issues at the site through clear signage.

Drivers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the parking terms and conditions at OK Diner to avoid similar incidents.