'First Aid' penalty notice scrapped

A MOTORIST who received a penalty ticket when a camera car spotted her in a loading bay in Bristol after pulling over to administer first aid to an injured cyclist has had it cancelled.

Janet Young had gone to help the cyclist in Church Road, St George, after he clipped a pavement and came off his bike.

Mrs Young, a receptionist from Bristol, said despite the ticket she would do the same thing again.

"I think anyone would, of course we would, its just [instinctive] to help someone in need," she told the BBC.

"It was an enforcement car [that caught me] so they would have seen the accident."

Mrs Young accepted she parked in a restricted area of the road but said it was the only space available near the incident, which happened on Tuesday.

A spokeswoman Bristol City Council said the ticket had been cancelled after Mrs Young lodged an appeal.

"The council's civil enforcement officers have to follow the letter of the law when issuing penalties," she said.

"However, appeals are considered sympathetically in certain circumstances, providing there is evidence.

"We received Mrs Young's appeal this morning and will be writing to her this afternoon to confirm that the penalty notice has been cancelled."

Bristol's first mobile enforcement car took to the roads in January 2012, is fitted with a camera and aims to catch drivers who park illegally outside the city's schools, hospitals and taxi ranks.

It also snaps people who park on bus stops and loading bays. The penalty for illegal parking is £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days.

By Press Association reporters