Woman slapped with £100 airport fine for stopping her car during panic attack

Annie Amos, 68, pulled into a no stopping zone at Bristol Airport when she had heart palpitations – her husband Steve says she didn’t see the signs because it was during Storm Franklin and her vision was obstructed.

A woman was slapped with a £100 fine when she was stopped outside an airport because she was suffering from a panic attack, her husband has claimed.

Annie Amos, 68, pulled into a no parking zone when she experienced heart palpitations while waiting for her husband Steve, 65, to leave the airport in February.

Steve said his wife Annie paid for parking at two different locations at Bristol Airport, Bristol Live reports.

Steve, who has cancer and had severe reactions to radiation therapy, wrote to his wife that he had been taken to the front of the plane to be near the lavatory.

Annie had a panic attack after receiving the text and had to stop. Steve says she didn’t see the signs while driving Franklin during the storm and her vision was obstructed.

Storm Franklin caused severe travel delays and many parts of the country were flooded and hit by heavy and torrential rain.

Her car was caught by cameras and she was subsequently fined for stopping in a no parking zone.

The Somerset couple have tried to appeal the fine imposed by Vehicle Control Services Ltd, the company responsible for parking controls at the airport.

Steve claims he did not hear from them when he asked about the appeals process, and he also claims that he was told by the Independent Appeals Service (IAS) that they would not consider extenuating circumstances.

Bristol Airport said they “are unable to further assist” with Steve and Annie’s appeal as road safety has been compromised.

Steve says he was told the couple could either pay the £100 fine or go down the legal route.

Steve says taking the company to court is “not an option” as he and his wife are retired and “not in the best of health”.

He said: “My flight was delayed as we had to abort my landing at the height of the storm and it was not considered safe to disembark the plane upon landing.

“My wife had parked in two separate parking zones and paid while she waited for me to arrive.

“She was on her way back to another parking zone when she received a text message from me telling her we had broken up and were just landing.

“I am suffering from side effects from radiation therapy following cancer chemotherapy and my wife is obviously very concerned for my well being.

“She was having a panic attack and stopped to calm herself as she was unable to drive. She paused for 45 seconds to do so. This was in a no stopping zone, she didn’t see the signs as it was the peak of the storm Franklin with high winds and rain and she was basically panicking.

“We have appealed on this basis, this has now been rejected. At no point did the Independent Appeals Service (IAS) or VCS acknowledge my wife’s panic attack, instead they repeat the mantra of the big no parking signs over and over.”

A Bristol Airport spokesman said: “VCS has fully investigated the incident and reviewed CCTV footage. Unfortunately, the customer stopped at double red lines and picked up another customer, causing traffic safety issues for other road users, customers and colleagues. As road safety has been compromised, they cannot help further.”

The airport says facilities are available near the terminal for vehicles picking up and dropping off passengers, and a free waiting zone offers parking for up to 60 minutes.

The mirror contacted Vehicle Control Services Ltd for an explanation.