Leaders: Ticket trouble

May 28 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A COUNCIL parking warden was spotted ticketing a van parked on double yellow lines in Lindley – while his own vehicle was parked in a residents’ only bay.

Annoyed passer-by David Mosley saw the warden and remonstrated with him.

But the warden said he had a right to park there, permit or no permit.

Kirklees Council have backed this up, confirming that council marked vehicles are exempt from the rules when it comes to residents’ only parking.

This story will no doubt anger many drivers, especially any motorists who have ever received a parking ticket.

Often we feel tickets are unfair, or complain that wardens are overzealous in dishing them out.

While it is right that motorists should accept punishment where they are in the wrong, incidents like this make the system seem unfair.

It gives the impression that the wardens – and their employers the council – believe they are not accountable, above the law and more important than the rest of us.

Why should there be one rule for wardens and another for the public?

It does nothing to breed trust in the system.