Mum fined $108 for picking her daughter up at airport petrol station

This is the moment captured on a petrol station’s CCTV that led to Ruth Pickering copping a “disgusting” $108 fine.

A furious mum has slammed UK airport officials after she was fined £60 ($108) for collecting her daughter while she was filling her car with petrol.

Ruth Pickering, 52, decided to stop at a petrol station at East Midlands Airport before heading to arrivals to pick up her daughter.

Her daughter had just returned from a holiday in Barcelona.

She was initially unable to spot her parents at the terminal, but after calling her dad, she was told to head to the garage where her mum was refuelling.

However, CCTV caught the moment the 22-year-old put her suitcase in the boot of the car as her mum was paying for the petrol.

Ms Pickering was then fined £60 for “stopping in a zone where stopping is prohibited”, according to Nottinghamshire Live.

She was also warned that if she did not pay the fine in 14 days it would increase to £100 ($180). Ms Pickering appealed the notice but it was dismissed — and she could be taken to small claims court if she doesn’t pay.

However, she said there was “no way” she was paying the “disgusting” fine. “I was using the facilities. I am not just sitting there at the petrol station,” she said.

The “furious” mum claimed it was just a “money-making scheme”. Ms Pickering also said that the 10-minute drop-off points “should be free”.

Ruth Pickering was fined for stopping in a prohibited zone. Picture: Nottingham Post/BPM Media/Australscope

CCTV captured the incident. Picture: Nottingham Post/BPM Media/Australscope

She lodged a complaint but it was dismissed. Picture: Nottingham Post/BPM Media/Australscope

Passengers who travel to East Midlands Airport must pay £3 ($5.40) for 10 minutes to collect or drop off passengers outside the terminals. The fee goes up by £1 ($1.80) every minute after this.

It costs £4 ($7.20) to stay for 30 minutes in the short stay carpark, and there is free parking up to one hour in the long stay carparks.

A number of airports around the UK have free 10-minute drop-off points.

Cardiff, Inverness and Norwich have free drop-off or collection points, while London Gatwick, Heathrow and City allow free drop-offs as well but not collections.

An East Midlands Airport spokesperson said in a statement: “Parking or waiting on roads across East Midlands Airport’s (EMA) estate has always been prohibited.

“While this was previously indicated by double yellow lines, all roads are now red-routed and are enforced by a third-party organisation. The same compliance company also has a separate agreement in place with the petrol station owners.

“The safety of people visiting and working at the airport is our number one priority. Over 8000 people are employed across the airport estate, and thousands of passengers arrive at and depart from here each day. Everyone who comes to the site needs to be safe.

“Controlling traffic flow on the roads throughout the airport is key to ensuring people’s safety and enjoyment of visiting EMA. Vehicles waiting in undesignated parking areas when dropping off and collecting passengers not only causes congestion but is dangerous for both drivers and pedestrians.

“Likewise, dropping off and picking passengers up at the petrol station poses a risk to safety. All drivers dropping off and collecting passengers at EMA should use the designated carparks and drop-off facilities.”

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission