Woman who ignored £37,000 in parking fines declared bankrupt

A woman who failed to pay £24,500 in parking fines she ignored has been declared bankrupt, with fines exceeding £37,000.

At Dundee Sheriff Court earlier this year, Carly Mackie, 29, was told to pay the private parking company the unpaid charges after she routinely parked her car in the city’s Waterfront without a permit.

Ms Mackie claimed she had the right to park there and that the charges were unenforceable in Scots law.

But Sheriff George Way said the contract under which Vehicle Control Services (VCS) served its charges was valid and that Ms Mackie was liable.

Parking tickets were placed almost daily on her Mini, parked in front of her parents’ garage near their home on West Victoria Dock Road.

Eight nearby signs warned drivers they could only park in designated areas and that they would need a permit to do so. Those lacking permits were liable to be fined £100 a day.

VCS took Ms Mackie to court after she failed to pay a bill of £18,500.

Sheriff Way ordered that she pay the outstanding charges plus interest at eight per cent a year.

He said: “She knew perfectly well what the signs displayed and that she was parking in breach of the conditions.

“She stated (effectively a protest position) that parking charges were illegal and unenforceable in Scotland and that she could park where she liked as her father’s guest.

“The defender is not the tenant. The defender’s car was an additional burden on the parking facilities and she was the same as any other interloper.

“She was offered a permit by the factors (at a reasonable charge I think) but she refused on principle.”

“Parking is not only an amenity but a valuable commodity in modern life.”

Ms Mackie has now been declared bankrupt, six months after the ruling, with debts running to £37,546.