The operators of a controversial Perth car park slapped a motorist with a penalty charge despite the fact she was working 18 miles away at the time.
Cameras at the Kinnoull Street car park show a vehicle bearing the registration of Megan Cassell’s vehicle entering at 1.16pm and leaving at 2.06pm on September 15.
However, the leisure attendant said at the time Smart Parking claim she was in the Perth car park she was working in Blairgowrie. The Courier has seen rotas and signed timesheets which confirm she was at her place of work from 9am until 3pm.
She said it is impossible to tell from the images provided by Smart Parking on the parking charge notice (PCN) whether or not it is actually her car.
She said: “Due to the quality of the photocopy within the PCN I cannot fully establish that it is in fact my car or that someone could have copied my number plate and attached it to a similar make and model to my car.
“At the date and time I was 18 miles away, working at the Blairgowrie recreation centre.”
She said the PCN had arrived the day after she left for a trip to America, resulting in a delay in her contacting the firm.
MP Pete Wishart, who has long campaigned against Smart Parking, said: “After a year of inflicting misery on the people of Perth and those who visit our city this ‘parking fine’ from Smart Parking must take the biscuit in what has been an almost extraordinary and foul-tasting tin.
“As well as inappropriately ‘fining’ people who actually use their car park they have now taken to ‘fining’ people who don’t.
“Ms Cassell has provided detailed evidence that she was nowhere near the car park and the photos supplied by Smart Parking show that the car in question could be anything between the Batmobile and Herbie the Love Bug.
“Smart Parking must acknowledge that their questionable technology is vulnerable to all sorts of mistakes and mischief, particularly the practice of using false number plates.”
A Smart Parking spokesman said they have now cancelled Ms Cassell’s ticket.
He said: “Smart Parking cancelled Ms Cassell’s parking charge notice last week, after she contacted us. If Ms Cassell had contacted us within the 28 day period clearly stated on the notice we would have considered her appeal instead of taking further action.
“Smart Parking abides by the British Parking Association Code of Conduct, and we operate a clear and fair appeals procedure. We would encourage any motorist to appeal if they feel there are genuine mitigating circumstances in their case.”