Fury as charity Santa gets parking ticket
FATHER Christmas has to park his sleigh where he can at this time of year...
But he doesn't normally get a parking ticket.
"It's ridiculous," said the Round Table's Santa – who has been landed with a £70 fine.
Richard Walters – Santa – said: "We are raising money for a good cause at Christmas time and she had the audacity to give me a ticket."
"It was clear to anyone what I was doing," added the 38-year-old.
Mr Walters had parked his Land Rover off Tudor Square in West Bridgford with the sleigh in tow.
He got out to push the sleigh, blow-up Santa, two reindeers and snowmen, into position. He returned to move the car – to be given a ticket.
"I tried to reason with the attendant but there was no way," he said. "You have to wonder if she had any Christmas cheer in her at all.
"It's not like we were causing any obstruction. She could see what we were doing. There is no other way to get the sleigh onto the square."
Mr Walters was one of three members of the West Bridgford Round Table who were collecting money for charity on Saturday.
Secretary Richard Middup, 43, said: "I have never known anything like it. We do this every year. We spend the week going around the streets with the sleigh and then come here on the Saturday.
"All the money goes to good causes and yet we are suddenly given a fine for what is just loading."
Marcia Miles, 42, who works in the nearby Salad Bowl, said: "It's disgusting. There are people doing something like this for a good cause and they get fined."
Dawn Burns, 35, who works in Haarts, said: "I saw them arguing with the traffic warden but it was clear she was having none of it."
Colleague Maureen Hodgkinson added: "I was absolutely disgusted. They are out in this rain and they get a parking ticket for trying to make money for charity. I just cannot believe it."
The NCP is contracted by Rushcliffe Borough Council to enforce parking regulations in the area.
Coun Sam Boote said: "The civil enforcement officers tend to be very keen so unfortunately there will be things like this.
"NCP basically do as the council asks them. People who are unhappy can make an appeal and I would say a case like this would have a ten or 20% chance of succeeding."
Tim Cowen, a spokesman for NCP Services, said: "The car was parked there for considerably longer than the two minutes that was claimed. Issuing a ticket alone takes at least five minutes.
"There was no signs on it [the car] to say it was for a charity event. He did not tell us that he was doing any work for a charity."
He said that when the car was spotted it was unaccompanied and parked in a "dangerous position".
He added: "We do support drivers' rights to appeal. If he thinks he has been treated unfairly then we suggest he does appeal. But we do not believe that this ticket was issued inappropriately."
Mr Walters said: "I said that the vehicle had been there for approximately four minutes, not the two as he claimed I said.
"It is true that there was no sign in the car explaining what I was doing. However, as the vehicle was only left for a few minutes and I was at Santa's rather conspicuous sleigh, less than 15 yards away, a sign seemed rather unnecessary.
"I tried to appeal to her better nature but to no avail as she informed me it was the most ridiculous parking that she had seen in ages. She then handed me the ticket.
"All that aside, I would like to thank the people of West Bridgford for their generous support of our Christmas collection this year."
marcus.boocock@nottinghamevening.post.co.uk
30 Comments
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by law enforcement, nottingham
Tuesday, December 23 2008, 9:36PM
“if you park like a prat, no matter what or why you have done it your going to get a ticket or towed away or moved on.
ps build a bridge and get over it .”
by Bill, Keyworth
Tuesday, December 16 2008, 3:19PM
“Sorry folks, amendment. line 7 after considered insert " to be a dangerous position". Must get it right or someone will tell me off. Call me pedantic!”
by Bill, Keyworth
Tuesday, December 16 2008, 3:15PM
“Zena, the original report stated that the driver was present as warden started to write the ticket. If she considered that the vehicle presented an active danger to the public all she had to do was ask him to move the vehicle to a safe position and then continue issuing in a place of safety. There was thus no need to even consider breaking into the vehicle to move it. By requiring the driver to wait with his vehicle in what she considered whilst she completed the paperwork condones the offence or tacitly accepts that it was not a risk.”
by Zena, Nottingham
Tuesday, December 16 2008, 10:07AM
“"If the warden was correct, every market stall holder, shop delivery, and even the postal service are acting illegally."
Did you miss the bit where it said he was parked dangerously?
Another commenter suggested that spending 5 minutes writing a ticket for him was "condoning" his parking?! Surely the opposite? If she'd broken in and moved the vehicle would that be better?!!
I take no delight in others embarrassment, and for the record, I ahve no need to watch where I park or where I keep my dustbin for fear of watchfull people fining me, as I store my bin on my property and I always park legally and safely.
If he had been caught shoplifting and was saying his penalty was unfair because he was dressed as santa and going to give the goods to sick kiddies, this article would be considered ridiculous.”
by Andyman, Derbys
Tuesday, December 16 2008, 2:55AM
“Equaliser:
You are quite correct in that not all parking in restricted areas is illegal, one of those is for loading and unloading of vehicles. Under current legislation you are allowed 20 mins for such actions, this being clearly one such unloading of a trailer. Therefore the ticket was illegally issued by no more than some wanna be demi-god.
In response to another aspect of the story, independent figures show appeals have an 80% chance of success, not the 20% quoted, is this more misinformation to deter appeals.
If the warden was correct, every market stall holder, shop delivery, and even the postal service are acting illegally.”
by Anthony Wilkinson, Ruddington
Monday, December 15 2008, 8:47PM
“I wrote earlier in the year regarding a motor car that had lost a wheel on Brook Street in the City.
A daring Warden had broke cover and at great personal danger slapped a ticket on the windscreen.
Now, I thought, we can walk the streets of the City without fear knowing we were being watched by fearless public servants. It always makes me wonder how cars can be broken into under the eyes of our all-seeing band of stripey dealers of penalty tickets. If I were a criminal I would think its not worth doing the crime as I will be spotted instantly and hauled away to court.
I would like to think that many of the letters that purport to support the profit-conscious NCP are written in an ironic vein, but I'm not so sure.
The Germans have word for their very human failings. Schadenfreude: The very delicious delight felt by observing the downfall and embarrassment of others.
Don't fall for it boys and girls it may be your turn next. Keep tabs on your dustbins and watch where you park and for heaven's sake don't break down on a double-yellow.”
by Bill, Keyworth
Monday, December 15 2008, 8:47PM
“Let me get this right, vehicle is parked in "a dangerous position" and the traffic warden then condones the offence by taking 5 minutes to write a ticket. Where is the logic in that?”
by The Equaliser, Hell, Lower Regions
Monday, December 15 2008, 8:28PM
“What was he supposed to do Zena?
Park a couple of hundred yards away and manhandle the float back to its location?
I see a Council Health & Safety Legislation misdemeanor here.
Most parking restrictions are arbitrary. That is they are there generally to prevent congestion and obstruction. A few minutes is not likely to cause any major problem. That is where discretion comes in. However, I believe that wardens are told not to exercise discretion as it leads to unfairness! Work that one out.
It is called Zero Tolerance. What a place to start using Zero Tolerance! Loonies running amok with guns and knives, thugs bashing citizens on the head and attacking old ladies in their own homes . . . now they are crimes to adopt Zero Tolerance. But do they? NO!
You letter writers who smugly state "He broke the Law and should take the punishment"! want open your eyes to the real world.
There are a hundred reasons why a motorist may have to stop on a double yellow line and none are CRIMINAL in the sense of the word.
The only thing criminal is the vultures who make money from honest men and women going about their lawful business.
Another thing that proves that in the main double yellow lines are arbitrary is the continual parking of often large cars on the road outside Marks and Spencers.”
by Bill, Keyworth
Monday, December 15 2008, 8:18PM
“I am sure Steve/Stephen that there are many Rotarians, Freemasons and members of Round Table who would willingly pay the parking fine for him. They leave manipulation in the "higher echelons of power" to the party politicians who have much more experience of it and don't get expelled for trying it. Do I get a whiff of the old left in your comments, is the old school tie red?”
by P.S, Notts
Monday, December 15 2008, 8:18PM
“You're right Zena. I hacve had, in my time, what I considered to be very unfair tickets. Ialways pay them in the end, even after the bailiffs are threatened(yes the Council does come and nick your possessions if you won't pay.
Now I'm just gonna dress as Santa (At Christmas) and the Easter Bunny at the appropriate time.In between festivals I shall appear in various animal costumes and use this as an excuse”