Air hostess, 28, bankrupt after legal battle against 200 parking fines she says are ‘illegal’
Carly Mackie ignored hundreds of parking charge notices handed out for leaving her car in Dundee without a permit
AN air hostess who was ordered to pay £24,500 in unpaid charges for ignoring hundreds of parking tickets has been declared bankrupt.
Carly Mackie, 28, parked outside her mother's home in Dundee, Scotland, and ignored the almost-daily parking charge notices on her windscreen.
She wrongly believed she was entitled to park her Mini on the spot in front of her family's garage - and refused to buy a £40-a-month parking permit.
But private firm Vehicle Control Services took her to court last year when she racked up a £18,500 bill for ignoring more than 200 penalties - and has now won.
The firm said Ms Mackie has not challenged a single fine and was not entitled to leave her car outside the property in Dundee, Scotland, without a permit.
Debt collectors who worked on the case claim it is the highest value parking charge ever awarded in the UK.
In a written judgement Sheriff George Way said Ms Mackie had "entirely misdirected herself on both the law and the contractual chain in this case" and ordered her to pay £24,500.
In the ruling handed down at Dundee Sheriff Court, he said: "She knew perfectly well what the signs displayed and that she was parking in breach of the conditions.
"She stated that (effectively a protest position) that parking charges were illegal and unenforceable in Scotland and that she could park where she liked as her father's guest.
"The defender is not the tenant. The defender's car was an additional burden on the parking facilities and she was the same as any other interloper.
"She was offered a permit by the factors (at a reasonable charge I think) but she refused on principle."
He added: "Parking is not only an amenity but a valuable commodity in modern life."
Ms Mackie had been parking in an area reserved for residents when she visited the property rented by her mother and stepfather since at least 2015.
Sheriff Way said she had parked outside the garage and would not accept the offer of a parking permit for a space nearby for £40 per month.
Parking tickets from private companies are not fines but by parking in a restricted area a motorist can be considered to be agreeing to a contract.
Failing to pay can be seen as a breach of contract and the car parking firm can take the motorist to court to recover their losses.
