Drivers could face a £1000 fine for asking for spare change in a car park - and it's all down to a 200-year-old law that has never been abolished.
The Vagrancy Act 1824 has become controversial in recent years, with critics claiming it criminalises the homeless.
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The act technically means that begging - or asking someone for spare change - is considered a crime and although it was repealed earlier last month in the House of Commons, it hasn't been abolished yet.
Now many fear it will reach its 200th anniversary in 2024 before the final action is completed.
It also means that motorists who find themselves short of change or with the incorrect coins in car parks should beware, as it could be classed as begging under the Vagrancy Act.
You could be ordered to spend a month in “the house of correction” but more likely a £1,000 fine these days - if put into action at all.
Motoring expert Graham Conway, from van leasing company Select Car Leasing, said: “There remain a handful of bizarre laws in this country that have the potential to land drivers in hot water.
“These include having a football team’s flag flying from your vehicle and sleeping in the back seat while drunk.
“But this has to be one of the weirdest. Thankfully, many car park payment machines now offer the option of paying with a debit or credit card.
“There are also a range of mobile phone apps that make covering the cost of leaving your vehicle simple and efficient. But everyone knows of at least one car park that is behind the times and where you can only pay with coins.
“In fact, I’d wager that the vast majority of motorists still carry some sort of loose change in their console compartments in case they get caught out.”
