Dressed In A Little Brief Authority

[poliphilo]

We parked outside the dentist's yesterday afternoon- on double yellow lines. We had our disabled parking permit properly displayed in the front window and were fairly sure this trumped the yellow lines, but just to be absolutely certain we asked the traffic warden who was standing there for his opinion. He burbled something that seemed tantamount to giving us permission. Twenty minutes later we left the dentist's to find we'd been ticketed.

Surely the job of a traffic warden is to stop people parking in prohibited areas, not to lure them into breaking the rules so punishment can be administered? What is it about dressing a person in uniform that turns them into an enemy of the human race?

Comments

[saare-snowqueen.livejournal.com]

I hope you plan to file a complaint.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

We have done.

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

That's just wrong. It's no comfort but it happens here as well. Oh those uniforms.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It's the duplicity that really annoys me.

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

Yes. That's what got my attention.
:/

[jfs.livejournal.com]

Annoyingly often, the job of the traffic warden is to meet or exceed a quota of parking tickets issued during the day.

The user-icon I'm using on this post is of a ticket that was stuck to my car windscreen a few years back, telling me that I was going to have to pay a lot of money for parking in a residents parking bay without a permit.

It was stuck next to the residents permit. Within about 2 inches of it.

When I wrote and pointed this out to the council, they, after much deliberation, announced that they were choosing not to proceed with the prosecution at this time.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

They do say that Councils regard parking controls as an easy way of raising money.

I don't really object to that- so long as the wardens aren't being pressured into meeting targets- and the system is policed fairly and sensibly.

[veronica-milvus.livejournal.com]

Entrapment! I hope you have the warden's number or at least a description of his miserable face!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I guess I'd be able to identify him in a line-up.

If the Council don't agree to quash the fine I'm minded to go to the local paper.

[(Anonymous)]

Yes, go to the local paper if you don't get this rescinded.
What a jobsworth!
Jenny

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I grew up believing people in uniform could be trusted- ha!

[carl9whalley.livejournal.com]

I got a parking ticket in a car park in July on the ticket it said issued at 20:20. I was actually getting a ticket when i attached my bought ticked to my car the ticket said issued at 20:21. I was watching him putting it on he saw me as well. The fine was for £25.00. I objected to the ticket and to no surprise it fell on deaf ears, so the ticket then went to £50.00. My brother then sent a letter for me he's a solicitor fell on deaf ears the ticket was then £75.00. I then threatened them with the paper they asked me for copy of the ticket i emailed them a photocopy. I received a letter it had been quashed. You have to fight these people.I'll help you......

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thanks Carl.

Yes, basically they're chancing their arm. They issue all the tickets they possibly can in the hope that most of their victims won't bother to fight.