Continental divide over ticket-happy traffic wardens

From: Shaun Kavanagh, Highfield Drive, Gildersome.

WHILE my wife and I were in Leeds recently with friends for dinner, we all witnessed two traffic wardens (not sure of their current title) issuing parking tickets at 9pm.

We were all equally disgusted at their actions, though naturally they were only acting under the instructions of their superiors.

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How ridiculous are such actions when councillors should be encouraging visitors to Leeds in order to boost the city’s economy by supporting bars, restaurants and other trades within the city centre.

A male officer was issuing his second ticket to a vehicle parked in Rossington Street.

Granted the two vehicles were parked in an area designated, by white line markings on the road, for loading, but at 9pm, I don’t think so!

I doubt there would be any deliveries at that time or later and suspect the area in question had not been so used all evening prior to 9pm, so what is the point? Why the heavy-handed approach?

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Similarly, around the corner in Percival Street, we witnessed a female officer writing her second ticket for two vehicles parked in an area of that street marked again, by white lines on the road for disabled drivers, and again at 9pm.

There was ample room within the designated area for other motorists, whether disabled or otherwise, yet there were no vehicles parked in the street which were displaying anything to do with a disability.

Throughout the business day, then “yes” to tickets being issued which I would totally support, but 9pm is nothing short of ridiculous.

From: Brian Hanwell, Tideswell, Derbyshire.

WITH regard to the letter from Douglas Telfer (Yorkshire Post, November 1), it reminded me of the time I parked on the sea front at Monte Carlo, walked around for several hours and found a parking ticket stuck to my car windscreen when I got back.

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Naturally I was angry, both with myself and with the policeman who had given me the ticket.

When I got back to my hotel (a very small hotel in Cagnes Sur Mer) I showed the ticket to the manager. This is what he said: “You do not need to worry. In France you are not treated as a criminal because you have not paid a parking fee. Let me explain what it says.”

He opened the yellow and black envelope and said: “It says ‘it has been observed that you have failed to notice that when you park in this area you are required to pay a parking fee. You are invited to pay the usual fee of two euros by placing the coins in the enclosed envelope and placing it in any postbox’.”

The manager then continued: “That is what the notice says, however in your case you do not need to pay. I shall telephone them and I shall tell them that you are one of my favourite customers and they will say ‘just forget it’.

“I can promise you that they will not be waiting to arrest you when you arrive at Calais.”