Luton Uber driver slapped with £100 fine after stopping for under 2 minutes to check for passenger's lost property
An Uber driver who got out of his vehicle in a Luton business park to check for lost property has been fined £100.
Ridvan Ademi, 49, picked up his customer from Luton Airport before dropping them off at Capability Green on March 17.
Not long after he left the job, he received a call.
Ridvan said: “The customer said that he might have left an item in the car, so I pulled over to check. I checked the back of the seat, and there was nothing left behind.”
Weeks later, he was sent a penalty charge notice (PCN) from Euro Parking Services, which operates in the business park. The notice states he was parked for one minute and 49 seconds.
He said: “I was there for less than two minutes. If you pay within 14 days, it’s £60.”
Ridvan appealed the fine, which was rejected, and now stands at £100.
He explained: “It’s just not fair. These private companies used to clamp cars… now they just do this instead.”
He also claimed there is no way to safely read the parking signage while behind the wheel: “How are you going to read while you’re driving?”
A spokesperson for Euro Parking Services stated that it has a maximum stay of 20 minutes for Greggs customers and a 10-minute grace period for authorised patrons.
They said: “Parking is otherwise prohibited in restricted areas, including double yellow lines and designated no-parking zones, where Parking Charge Notices may be issued immediately. Enforcement operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“Vehicles displaying valid permits or authorisation are exempt where applicable. Certain operational exemptions also apply, including actively picking up or dropping off passengers and vehicles stopped by site security personnel in uniform.
“Each Parking Charge Notice is assessed on the individual circumstances of the case, and any appeal submitted is reviewed against the evidence available and the site's terms and conditions.”
But Ridvan says he is not backing down: “Even though I might have to pay, I’m going to fight it. I’m willing to go to court. Maybe this will help other drivers as well.”