Clampers

[geoffrey]

I was driving down the M5 motorway at 1am in my car when I felt a little drowsy. Being a safe driver I pulled in to the almost empty service area, had something to eat in the service area went to the toilet and made a phone call and returned to my car. I still felt drowsy and fell asleep only to be woken by a crashing metal sound. It was a man in reflective jacket clamping the car next to mine. I asked him what he was doing and he replied 'You are next, you have been here seven minutes in excess of the 2-hour limit and you will have to pay £325 to be set free'. I immediately accelerated away. To require £325 for parking in a near empty service area is extortion but these service areas are privately run and surely clamping has now been outlawed? Or have they made a wretched loophole to protect big business?