Airwolf
March 2, 2003, 06:10 AM
Do you ever get the feeling that the system is going implode over there any second and that no one has a clue about why?
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2003092441,00.html
Bus gets ticket at stop
By CHRIS RICHES
BUS driver Chris O’Mahoney got a £40 parking ticket while picking up passengers - at a BUS STOP.
Stunned Chris, 27, pulled his No 77 single-decker into a bay marked "Buses Only" - next to a bus shelter.
But within seconds an eager warden swooped with a ticket, barking: "You can’t stop here." When Chris asked why, the warden replied: "I’ve been told to issue tickets to all buses that park up."
The firm he works for earns £1 for every parking ticket issued.
Embarrassed council bosses have now scrapped the fine and ordered the warden to be retrained.
Chris said: "Wardens do a difficult job but they need to use common sense.
"You have to park to let passengers on - you can’t do it while the bus is moving.
"All my passengers queueing to get on were gobsmacked when the warden dashed over.
"He said the area was restricted. When I asked restricted to who, he replied ‘buses’. I thought he must be blind."
Chris was nicked in Manchester, which tops a UK league table after dishing out 125,747 £40 parking fines last year.
The city council made £1.45million from penalties imposed by Control Plus, which employs the warden.
The fine given to Chris said he had "parked on a restricted bus stop."
Mike Dunstan, of Bluebird Buses, said the apparent targeting of buses undermined efforts to encourage people to use public transport.
A council spokesman admitted: "Issuing this ticket shows a lack of judgment."
Control Plus had already been accused of Gestapo tactics by Manchester drivers.
In 2000 a sick woman was fined for displaying a valid ticket upside down outside a GP’s surgery.
And a list of parking hotspots was produced to help wardens meet targets - highlighting "productive" areas for tickets and wheel clampers.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2003092441,00.html
Bus gets ticket at stop
By CHRIS RICHES
BUS driver Chris O’Mahoney got a £40 parking ticket while picking up passengers - at a BUS STOP.
Stunned Chris, 27, pulled his No 77 single-decker into a bay marked "Buses Only" - next to a bus shelter.
But within seconds an eager warden swooped with a ticket, barking: "You can’t stop here." When Chris asked why, the warden replied: "I’ve been told to issue tickets to all buses that park up."
The firm he works for earns £1 for every parking ticket issued.
Embarrassed council bosses have now scrapped the fine and ordered the warden to be retrained.
Chris said: "Wardens do a difficult job but they need to use common sense.
"You have to park to let passengers on - you can’t do it while the bus is moving.
"All my passengers queueing to get on were gobsmacked when the warden dashed over.
"He said the area was restricted. When I asked restricted to who, he replied ‘buses’. I thought he must be blind."
Chris was nicked in Manchester, which tops a UK league table after dishing out 125,747 £40 parking fines last year.
The city council made £1.45million from penalties imposed by Control Plus, which employs the warden.
The fine given to Chris said he had "parked on a restricted bus stop."
Mike Dunstan, of Bluebird Buses, said the apparent targeting of buses undermined efforts to encourage people to use public transport.
A council spokesman admitted: "Issuing this ticket shows a lack of judgment."
Control Plus had already been accused of Gestapo tactics by Manchester drivers.
In 2000 a sick woman was fined for displaying a valid ticket upside down outside a GP’s surgery.
And a list of parking hotspots was produced to help wardens meet targets - highlighting "productive" areas for tickets and wheel clampers.