Driver, 60, fined £60 for stopping for just 21 SECONDS to check tyre pressure at BP petrol station
A DAD has been left shocked after being fined £60 for stopping for just 21 seconds to check his tyre’s pressure.
Nigel Martinez, 60, had pulled into the petrol station at the East Midlands airport to fill up his tyres after a light warned there was a tyre pressure problem.
After pumping up his Ford’s tyres, he then drove the car just a few yards - stopping to check the problem was fixed and which direction he would be going.
But just a few weeks later, the retired restaurant handyman couldn’t believe his eyes when he opened a fine – telling him the quick check he had performed would cost him £60.
Photos presented to Mr Martinez show stopped his car at 3.25.16pm, with the final photo showing him at 3.25.37pm - just 21 seconds.
Speaking to the Sun Online, retired Mr Martinez said: “My first reaction was shock and disbelief.
“If they had checked they would have seen me putting air in the tyres – I wasn’t just stopping, I had a reason.”
Describing the incident, which happened on July 13 at the BP fuel station, Mr Martinez said: “The warning light came on to say there was a tyre pressure problem so I pulled into East Midlands Airport petrol station, wanting to check all the tyres.
“I put air in all the four tyres and pulled out – then had a look at the tyres.
“I wanted to look at which way to go, and make sure the tyre pressure was all the same.”
FINED FOR STOPPING
It comes after a mum was similarly fined by the petrol station for “stopping in a zone where stopping is prohibited”.
Ruth Pickering, 52, decided to stop at a petrol station at East Midlands airport before heading to arrivals to pick up her daughter, who had just arrived home from a holiday in Barcelona.
She was initially unable to spot her parents at the terminal but after calling her dad, she was told to head to the garage where her mum, Ruth, was re-fuelling.
However, CCTV caught the moment the 22-year-old put her suitcase in the boot of the car as her mum was paying for the petrol.
Ruth was then fined £60 which was issued for "stopping in a zone where stopping is prohibited".
If they had checked they would have seen me putting air in the tyres – I wasn’t just stopping, I had a reason.
Nigel Martinez
Since being contacted by the Sun Online, the Vehicle Control Services Limited confirmed Mr Martinez's fine had been cancelled.
Mr Martinez said: "It goes to show that I was right, and it's important to make some noise about these kinds of things."
A representative for Vehicle Control Services Limited said: "Having reviewed the CCTV footage, along with Mr Martinez's appeal, we can confirm that Parking Charge Notice has now been cancelled.
"Whilst the CCTV footage shows no observable tyre pressure problems with the vehicle, it appears that Mr Martinez was attempting to manoeuvre closer to the air station from the position where he originally parked.
"We will confirm our decision in writing to Mr Martinez along with our sincere apologies.
MOST READ IN NEWS
"We would highlight that there has been notable abuse by motorists who have been inappropriately using the Fuel Station for dropping off or collecting airport passengers giving rise to safety and other risks and, hence, the need to introduce appropriate enforcement measures to monitor the prohibited no stopping areas.
"We are appreciative of Mr Martinez using our appeals procedure to highlight his particular circumstances and we have launched an internal investigation in order to fully understand the reasons why he was incorrectly issued with a Parking Charge Notice.
"Consequently, any relevant training and education of our administrators will be addressed."
