Avoid Airport Parking Tickets and Fines

Coming home from your trip and finding a parking ticket on your car is one of the worst experiences. 
You have spent some days at another place. Maybe you were on a vacation and had spent a week at the beach or exploring a new city. You've come and are tired from your travels. You just want to go home and relax. And then when you arrive at your vehicle, you see it, that paper-thing envelope looking tucked under your car’s windshield wiper. 

The problem is that it could be a huge amount. Like around $30 to $50. Sometimes even more. And most of the time it's a mistake you did not even know you made. 
Here’s the truth: Almost all the airport parking fines and tickets are absolutely avoidable. All you have to do is actually know what you’re doing that’s wrong so that you can fix it. 
 

Why Airport Parking Tickets Are Charged and Why They Are Common
 

The enforcement of airport parking tickets is aggressive. And let me tell you, there’s a reason for that, and it has to do with the fact that airports are high-traffic areas. Such high-traffic areas have strict regulations and security concerns. This also comes with issues regarding traffic flow. Since the parking space in such an area is limited, whenever an individual parks their vehicle incorrectly, it creates multiple problems that could affect the entire parking and traffic system of the airport. 

For that reason, the enforcement department at the airport parking simply does not mess around. 
And here’s a big problem: most of the travellers are unaware of the rules and the regulations. Most of the time these travellers are in a rush. They are stressed out and don’t want to miss their flight at any cost. They simply see a spot they could park their car in and rush to it without being concerned about the signs. And that quick decision costs them parking tickets and fines. 

If you want to learn how to avoid getting parking tickets at the airport, you will have to firstly understand where most of the travelers go wrong and end up with a ticket. 

 

Most Common Airport Parking Violations and How to Avoid Them
 

Let’s talk about the simple violations and how you can avoid parking tickets.

Parking in Short-Term When You Actually Need to Go for Long-Term Parking

This is the most common parking violation. When you park and you think you’re just going for a quick run up or a short trip. You park there hoping you would come in a jiffy, and then all of a sudden 2 to 3 hours have passed. You’re still there because your return flight got delayed maybe, and therefore now you’ve overstayed your parking. And now when you finally return, you'll find a ticket. 

Here’s how to avoid this. Always keep an eye out for the status of your flights. If there’s even a slight chance of delay, it is better to skip short-term parking entirely and go for long-term parking. That extra walk you’ll take will be cheaper than the ticket fine. 

Ignoring Zone Restrictions and Time Limits

There are different rules for every parking area. The cell phone lots usually have 30-minute parking limits. The zones for loading are for active loading only. There are proper permits that are needed to be acquired for handicapped parking spots. This might seem obvious, but it is overlooked by the travellers who are usually in stress and hurry. 

To avoid getting parking tickets in these zones, it is important that you read each and every sign before parking and leaving your vehicle. Give a look at the time limits. It takes hardly 30 seconds. Check out the requirements needed for a permit. Just make sure that you are allowed to park at the spot where you are parking. 
In case you are not sure, it is advised not to risk it and turn your car towards the designated parking structure.
 
 

Blocking Traffic Lanes or Fire Zones

This is done by more people than you think. They see a parrot for their parking, which is technically not a parking spot. This is because that spot is near or next to a curb in a fire lane. It’s possible that that spot could be blocking a driving lance. Despite all this, the travellers still park their car just because they’re confident they're going to return back real quick. 

For airports, they just do not care whether it’s a minute or a second. When it comes to fire zones and traffic lanes, there are safety issues, and parking at these spots can result in getting a hefty fine and, on some occasions, even towing. 

Here’s one simple rule to make sure this doesn’t happen to you: if the spot is not clearly marked as a space for parking, it’s not a parking space. Leave it and park somewhere else. 

Some Other Common Violations

Some other common issues are dealing with expired meters and unpaid parking fees. To avoid this, it's better to go for pre-booking options. This will not only clear the confusion but will also save your time and money.
The other is returning late from a tour trip and paying overstay dues. To avoid this, always inform the parking facility in case your trip gets extended. Remember that communication is the key here. 

These are some of the most common violations travellers at the airport parking get charged against in the form of parking tickets. The key is simply communication and knowing the rules, the lances, and the spots. 
This small but important knowledge makes a greater difference between saving yourself from parking tickets and burying yourself in fines and penalties. Now you know how to avoid parking fines at airports.