A mum is furious after being slapped with a £70 fine for backing into her own driveway.
Branding the penalty 'ridiculous', Stephanie, who did not give her last name, was spotted on double red lines as she waited to reverse safely into her drive.
The 51-year-old, from Reading, Berks, got the fine in the post for waiting in the no-stopping zone, which was recently painted along a bus route to help with congestion.
Since November last year, anyone caught parking on the red route in West Reading could receive the fine, which will be halved if paid within a fortnight.
There are, however, several exceptions to the new ruling, with buses, postal services, refuse vehicles and emergency services all among those allowed to park on the lines.
Photos of her black Vauxhall parked parallel to the red lines and partly on the kerb with reverse lights on, were included along with the fine.
Stephanie told Berkshire Live: “This is just ridiculous.
“It means that you cannot reverse onto your own driveway – which is a much safer option than reversing into a busy road.
“To me, it’s just common sense to reverse in. I’ve been fined for trying to do the right thing."
The unhappy mum got the fine through her door having been caught in the no-stopping zone on January 13, and has since appealed.
Stephanie now wants to warn other motorists that they face similar fines for trying to manoeuvre safely.
“A number of other people in my street reverse onto their drives so I also just want to warn them that they might be fined for doing that," she continued.
“I just think this red route thing is a money making exercise."
A Reading Borough Council spokesman said: "A red route is a 'no stopping' restriction introduced to keep key public transport routes clear to prevent delays for bus passengers and to remove obstacles and hazards for cyclists and pedestrians.
"Any driver issued with a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) who does not believe they should have received the fine can challenge it by following the procedures detailed on the PCN and explained on the council website."
