A dad has been slapped with a parking fine after staying for too long at his dying daughter’s bedside in hospital.
Dr Brian Farrington was handed the penalty charge notice after visiting his daughter, Joanne, at The Christie Cancer Centre in Manchester on May 9, 2024.
The pensioner had been at his 55-year-old daughter’s side when he exceeded parking restrictions on nearby streets.
His daughter’s condition worsened after that visit and she died shortly afterwards.
The 89-year-old explained he had parked on double yellow lines near the hospital because all parking spots were empty.
Mr Farrington acknowledged he overstayed the three-hour limit permitted for blue badge holders but said he and his wife had just learned their daughter had just days left.
He was eligible to park on the double yellow lines as his wife is registered as blind.
“On that very day we had to stay to get a solicitor in to draw up the will there and then, so that delayed us and that was the main reason that we were late,” Mr Farrington told the BBC.
The motorist claimed when he contacted Manchester City Council seeking to have the penalty cancelled, officials told him they sympathised with his situation but could identify no grounds for doing so.
Mr Farrington received the fine after exceeding the time limit on a street nearby the hospital
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GETTY/DANIEL LEAL
The local authority has since reviewed the case and issued a refund.
A council spokesman said: “The council is aware of this case and, following a review, this gentleman will be contacted and issued a refund for the ticket that was issued.”
Figures show that UK drivers received 1.6 million fines for parking on yellow lines illegally in 2024.
The AA, which obtained the figures, insisted motorists are “willing to follow the rules” but require “practical parking solutions”.
Mr Farrington received the fine while visiting his daughter at The Christie cancer centre
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Parking on double yellow lines at any time is banned except for limited exceptions such as a vehicle occupant having a Blue Badge.
Drivers are however, only permitted to park on single yellow lines within specific times set out on nearby signs.
Councils use cameras and traffic wardens to detect yellow line offences.
A survey of nearly 15,000 AA members indicated the top three reasons given for parking on double yellow lines include loading or unloading goods (43 per cent), making a quick stop (31 per cent) and a vehicle occupant having a Blue Badge (27 per cent)
Some 38 per cent of drivers aged 65 and above admitted to parking on double yellow lines, compared with just 29 per cent of those aged 18-24.