TRAFFIC WARDENS
By The Happy Hippy

Having to pay a large sum to park for a short period or having to park a long way from where one needs to be is more than annoying. Dropping into a bank to pay in a cheque or briefly stopping to pick up some dry cleaning, a prescription or, worse still, to visit the local hospital casualty department is seen to be something that should be a right that should not be restricted or charged for. Because such activities as these are so brief or necessary a driver is tempted, and sometimes forced, to break the law for a short period. And these small breaches usually have little consequence.

What makes people really angry is that they break the law for such short periods, and often with good reason, but are punished with the full penalty that can be delivered. The enforcers of our parking laws are the traffic wardens who, if one is unlucky, will pounce within a nano-second of the offence committed. This is doubly offensive as, whilst being punished for one's crime, everyone else committing the same offence is leaving and getting away scott-free. There is no arguing with a traffic warden, the offence has been committed, no matter for how long or why and regardless as to whether others have committed the same offence but got away with it.

It is not uncommon to hear stories of people who have parked up, gone to get change for a parking meter to come back and find that they have been issued with a ticket in that brief period. Nor is it unknown that cars parked up whilst heavy loads are being moved from a vehicle are ticketed whilst such loading and unloading is taken place. This is why traffic wardens are so hated, they apply the law in black and white and the concept of compassion, tolerance and even reason seems sorely missing. What is really galling to a motorist is that traffic wardens, mainly those employed by private companies working on behalf of local councils, are working to ensure that as many offenders as possible can be caught.

And while being fined for a transgression of parking that was actually pre-planned an even worse situation is where one has parked, legally it would appear at first sight, only to find that one has broken some parking control or restriction. The most insidious thing about parking fines is that it's usually half price if one pays up within 14 days. It may well be that it doubles after 14 days but the situation is still the same - if you pay your parking fine quickly it's a small drain on your pocket, take your time and it will cost you more. This is not always the case. If you challenge the issuing of the ticket, on some reasonable grounds, the penalty due is frozen, at the lower rate, until the matter is investigated. Unfortunately the matter is often investigated by the private company who issued the ticket who don't want to back down.

The next level of appeal can only be invoked by not paying which means that, should you lose a later appeal, you have to pay the higher penalty. Most people cannot be bothered fighting bureaucracy, even when they believe they are right, so opt for paying early and reducing their costs, fighting a parking penalty takes time and time is money and it's much easier to pay than worry about it. And you daren't pay the cheap rate penalty and include a stroppy letter because there's a good chance that, should you upset them, they're likely to bin the payment then charge you full whack claiming your payment didn't turn up within the specified time.

Traffic wardens are to be issued with RULERS, so they can give tickets to motorists who park too far from the kerb. The latest stealth tax to be foisted on car users will mean a fine of up to £100 for anyone caught parking more than 50cm (19½in) from the pavement. It is one of a raft of minor traffic offences for which wardens will be able to issue fines under Labour’s new Traffic Management Bill. The Bill will also let councils use CCTV IMAGES to fine people for parking on yellow lines. The 50cm rule is aimed at stopping double parking. Paul Watters, of the AA, fumed, “It’s another petty rule. Some traffic wardens will enforce it too vigorously. The intention may be sensible but the application may be stupid. That would infuriate motorists.”

Edmund King, of the RAC Foundation, said, “This does seem over the top. A lot of people across the country, especially in towns and villages, park more than 50cm from the kerb. Motorists will be incensed if they are penalised for parking a few centimetres too far away.” Shadow Transport Secretary Damian Green said, “This is a new height of nonsense in this Government’s attack on motorists. It will get to the ridiculous stage where everyone will start to carry a ruler to avoid a parking fine.”

The 50cm rule already exists in London, where the fine is £100. Under the new move it would be extended to other parts of the UK, with a £60 fine. MPs warned town halls will make profits of hundreds of millions of pounds out of parking fines, set to come into force by 2005 or 2006. Councils in London already rake in £65million a year from parking penalties and now the Traffic Management Bill will let traffic wardens take over powers from the police to issue even more tickets.

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