McDonald's penalizes parking abusers

LONDON, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Drivers who hang out too long in parking lots at some McDonald's restaurants in Britain can expect stiff fines.

The time limit applies at about 40 McDonald's that were allegedly being "abused," The Daily Mail reports.

A spokeswoman for the chain said that customers are warned about the 45-minute time limit when they order and can ask for more time. She said that one of the biggest problems was at Gatwick Airport south of London.

"In some car parks, and in particular we are looking at Gatwick, we were finding the car park was being abused, in particular by taxi drivers and chauffeurs," the spokeswoman said. "Some people would also leave their cars there while they went on holiday."

For those who get tickets, one of the most annoying features is that they are not given the chance to leave. Jamie Thomson, a businessman from Sussex, said he only found out he had been ticketed when he got a letter demanding payment of 125 pounds ($250) several weeks after he ate a leisurely lunch in a McDonald's parking lot. He and his family are no longer McDonald's customers.