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Illegally parked mayoral car escapes fine
Tuesday 4th May 2010, 11:30AM BST.
A mayoral car escaped a fine after enforcement officers spotted it parked outside a town hall in the Midlands – in a no parking zone.
The wardens, who are employed by Wyre Forest District Council, approached the vehicle outside Kidderminster Town Hall in Vicar Street at the weekend.
Kidderminster mayor, Councillor Howard Martin, was not using the vehicle at the time.
It had been parked by officer Bob Fleming who was returning the mayoral chain to the building after a previous engagement on Sunday.
Councillor Martin had attended the annual selection of the Kidderminster Carnival queen, princess and rosebud at the hall earlier in the day. He had been taken home to attend another engagement which he was travelling to in his own car.
Mr Fleming explained to the officers he was only returning the chain to the building and they agreed to let him do so.
However he was told the car would have to moved as soon as he was finished.
Councillor Martin said he had not known about the situation but had since been told about it by Mr Fleming.
“After dropping me off so I could travel to my next engagement the officer had returned to the town hall to return the Mayoral chain.
“He was approached by the enforcement officers who took advice from their supervisor and asked the officer how long it would take.
“After some discussion they decided as only a short time was needed, around 10 minutes, the car could remain where it was.
“No ticket was issued and the car was moved as soon as the chain was returned. The enforcement officers acted correctly.”
Passers-by were bemused to see the Mayoral car being scrutinised by enforcement officers.
Office worker Mark Dobson, aged 36, said: “The warden was approached by the driver and there was some discussion about where the car was parked. Some thought it was disgraceful there should be no fine. Other cars would have been booked.”
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FANTASTIC
One rule for one and one for another
I left my car with my daughter in it on a Sunday, hardly anyone around, unaware that i had to pay on a Sunday, was given 5 mins to return and slapped with a £30 fine
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The wardens responsible should be instantly dismissed, no appeal one law should be for all. This vehicle was obviously breaking the law
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1 rule for 1, and 1 rule the others, he should of got a fine like anyone else would of if they had been parked there, just because it was a majors car, it doesn’t mean that it should have special treatment !!!!
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Typical. If Joe Public had done exactly the same, and used the same excuse, he would have got a ticket.
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Why should they issue a ticket, I bet there hundreds of cases where people get let of with parking fines and because it is not the Mayor it does not make the news.
If people are that worried, stop parking illegally and you want get a ticket and that will solve your problem.
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I totally agree with you dsm & wba. This is discusting, maybe we should all park illegally and come up with a similar line!
Knowing my luck I will get done anyway, no excuses, book him!
Same rules should apply to everyone, no questions what so ever and they have option of appealing against the ticket. Even though the funds will come out our pockets anyway so what difference would it make.
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I was at the scene of this horrendous crime and i see that this report has little or no basis in fact who, checked the details, from what i could see the officer came out of town hall was told to move and did so no more than that, having been there less than 5mins he had no contact with the enforcment officers before he went into the building. express and star should check their facts the report in the paper is totally different. this is a none story.
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7 jtc that may be true but if it had have been you coming out of the building would they have told you to move on or gave you a ticket i rather think it would have been the latter option
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The officer was handing back the mayoral chain, sounds like loading to me. I understand loading/unloading is permitted in a “no parking zone”.
I agree with JTC this is a non story, just another excuse to whip up anti-traffic warden feelings by the press for a bit of a page filler.
Do you people ever consider that these civil enforcement officers are just trying to earn a living? I’ve heard people jeering and abusing them in the street just for being there! I find this kind of press irresponsible and offensive.
Shame on you express and star for printing this and the photos of people doing their job correctly. Are you going to worry about what knock on effects it has on them and their working conditions? I doubt it.
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