Doubt cast over £100 parking fines at Bristol Airport

Parking fines at Bristol Airport have been thrown into doubt over whether they can be enforced.

Bristol Airport has been know for imposing strict fines on motorists but bylaws may indicate that fee enforcement is reserved for the courts.

Drivers risk being hit with the £100 fee for stopping outside designated pickup zones. However, they may be entitled to a refund, The Guardian reports.

Bristol Airport employs VCS, a contractor that enforces the parking regulations on the airport’s property.

According to Steve Williamson, a former local government officer, Humberside has adopted bylaws under the Airports Act 1986. He says the legislation indicates that the power to impose charges is held by courts, not by an airport’s contractor.

When Williamson’s wife was fined for a parking fee at Humberside Airport, he claimed the airport dropped the charge after she pointed this out. The bylaws are similar in Bristol.

Without prosecution in the magistrates court, Bristol Airport may not be able to enforce their parking fines.

However, the airport has maintained that the fines are valid and enforceable.

A spokesperson for Bristol Airport said: “The airport has a legitimate confidential contract with the operator to manage the safety and operation of our roadways and car parks. We are confident that the contract operates in accordance with the agreement and the relevant legislation.”