Traffic wardens' parking rights debate rages on
SWANSEA police and council officials are refusing to get involved in a debate over whether traffic warden broke parking rules.
The Post revealed on Wednesday how a warden's van was snapped on double-yellow lines and parked on the kerb.
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Two traffic wardens were snapped with their white Ford van parked on double-yellow lines and partially on the pavement.
Swansea Council said parking wardens were exempt from yellow-line restrictions when working.
But Post readers were angry at the revelation, and said the drivers should be punished for causing an obstruction by parking on the pavement.
Both the council and police refused to give details on what constitutes an obstruction in the eyes of the law, or whether any action would be taken against the van driver.
Many complained the vehicle was causing an obstruction by blocking the pavement.
Ann Lewis, of Port Talbot, said: "They are causing an obstruction for anyone who is disabled or blind, for and young mums with pushchairs. By blocking the pavement, they are putting people in danger by having to step onto the road.
"They should not be exempt from parking on pavements.
"By all means, they should be allowed to carry out their work, but not by putting other people at risk of accidents."
Wardens are exempt from parking restrictions while carrying out their statutory duties.
But readers said there was no reason why they should be exempt. Karl, from Swansea, said: "Traffic wardens should not be exempt from illegal parking. Are warden's disabled? There is no reason preventing them from doing their job, even if they have to walk a little distance like the rest of us."
A retired police officer, who did not want to be identified, told the Post: "The council may be correct when he says wardens are exempt from parking restrictions while working, but they are not exempt over driving and parking on the footpath.
"These are offences under several acts."
One reader even said he was reporting the incident to South Wales Police to see if any action would be taken against the council.
But South Wales Police said they had received no official reports of illegal parking in Pell Street since September 2009, and declined to give its opinion on the alleged traffic offence.
But a few readers jumped to the wardens defence.
Richard said on the Post's website: "I think it's reasonable they can park on double-yellow lines if they need to issue a ticket, as long as they are there for the minimum amount of time. People parking illegally on double-yellow lines cause problems for other drivers. If we all did it, there would be anarchy on the roads."
A Swansea Council spokesman said on Wednesday: "Every effort is made by our officers to park in accordance with restrictions when patrolling the city, but there are occasions when this is not possible if they are to effectively carry out duties."
A spokesman said the council had nothing new to add.
laura.davies@swwmedia.co.uk
10 Comments
by jeffery, dirtytown
Saturday, March 13 2010, 2:19PM
“I have just emailed the so called three most important people in Wales and the content is below along with their email addresses. I urge everone to contact these poeple to see why the laws we have are not being enforced ands why they want the power to create more laws to be ignored
"Hello three most important people of Wales, it appears as though you are advocating more law making powers for Wales, can you explain why you feel this is needed? I would then like to ask you why you cannot manage the laws we have now and I cite as one example the simple law about illegal parking and the fuss that has been created recently about enforcement officers parking on a pavement in Swansea while claiming to carry out their duty. I feel we have enough laws and feel that the laws we have are not being utilised to the full extent and while we have Swansea council ignoring/condoning the problem and police feeling it is a discretionary law we will head further downwards into disorder. I believe the laws that exist should be enforced and privilege should not allow public servants to be exempt from the law. Zero tolerance is needed and treat everyone the same under the law.
Regards
Jeffery"
PS.First.Minister@Wales.gsi.gov.uk
ieuan.wynjones@wales.gov.uk
hainp@parliament.uk”
by Heather, Mumbles
Friday, March 12 2010, 11:51PM
“Well I'm sure as hell pleased I don't live in Thailand! Pity there weren't busy bodies there to help put an end to the ATROCITIES inflicted on animals. Disgraceful.”
by Lee, Thailand
Friday, March 12 2010, 10:02PM
“I am so glad I don't live in UK anymore, when all you busy bodies and shall I say Keyboard warriors have nothing better to do than slate a guy for briefly stopping on double yellow lines whilst doing his job.. I have done the same in Neath many times, whilst carrying out my job, even under the watchful eyes of Neath's Wardens and due to nature of my work, these guys had excersized their right to discretion and not had a problem with it...So you've had a parking ticket... big deal- Aint we all! Grow up and why is SWEP making a big deal of it!”
by Hugh_Jehlmett, The Docks
Friday, March 12 2010, 2:32PM
“I think its appalling these days that a traffic warden can park on a pavement but ordinary folk can't have a little harmless fun with a sea creature lawfully purchased from the local market. Things ain't what they used to be.”
by Dai, Swansea
Friday, March 12 2010, 12:08PM
“Martin they cannot just grant exeptions any policy must be passed by all Council and such exeptions were not part of the original decriminalisation policy passed by council.
I would also point out that although the Council is now responsible for enforcing and policing parking regulations - it is not the Council who set the regulations and legislation that is the job of WAG and Westminster.”
by jeffery, dirtytown
Friday, March 12 2010, 12:06PM
“Hello martin
Seems strange that these exemptions only seem to apply to council workers and other public servants”
by jeffery, dirtytown
Friday, March 12 2010, 12:04PM
“Parking offences have been decriminalised with respect to certain offences but parking on a pavement is not one of these listed offences. To park on a pavement you have to drive onto the pavement and this is a criminal offence. The stupidity of this is the way the law is enforced at the discretion of local police and council. Why do they not do the job they are paid for and service the public who pay their salaries. There was one man prosecuted for driving over a pavement to enter his drive and this was because there was no drop down on the kerb and mounting the kerb was deemed illegal.
Imagine how much fun it is going to be once the WAG get more law making powers, the idiots cannot manage the UK laws now . The law should be transparent and apply equally to everyone.”
by Martin, Swansea
Friday, March 12 2010, 11:56AM
“Sorry Dai, but you're wrong. Now that parking offecnces have been decriminalised so that the Council can enforce yellow lines, the Council can grant exemptions to whoever they like.”
by Dickiebo, Swansea.
Friday, March 12 2010, 10:53AM
“As one of Swansea's great police recently said to me when I pointed out to him no less than eleven vehicles causing obstruction in our street and parking on the pavement; "Taking action is discretionary, and I have decided not to take any!!!" Certainly the last time that I shall ever bother them!”
by Dai, Swansea
Friday, March 12 2010, 10:19AM
“So Swansea Council believe that "parking wardens are exempt from yellow-line restrictions when working" well they are WRONG. Even the police are NOT exempt from parking restrictions unless they have been called out to a blue light incident.
If this is the advice the parking wardens have been given by the Councils legal department they should get a second opinion because in the words of the HEAD of LEGAL SERVICES "if the advice I give you is wrong it is your fault for taking it" - watch your backs boyos.”