An airport has cancelled a fine after a pensioner was left facing a a £255 charge when he stopped his car to read a sign during a 'No Stopping' zone. On January 2, 2023, Andy Smith had driven two friends to East Midlands Airport as they were due to fly the following day, and planned to check in their baggage the night before and stay in the Leonardo Hotel to save time.
Mr Smith, who lives in Sheffield, entered the airport drop-off zone around 5pm and paid the £5 drop off fee, so that his friend Derek Sleath, 75, could take his and his wife's luggage into the airport to check it in. The 75-year-old then drove from the drop off zone to the hotel, which is located in the airport grounds, to drop off Derek's wife.
As Andy approached the hotel he was unsure of the arrangements for dropping someone off, and saw that there was a barrier blocking the car park. During the approach he stopped for less than a minute to read a parking sign, which proved difficult due to it being dark and rainy.
