A traffic warden was walking up and down the street and he passed me several times without taking any notice of me so I felt I was okay, writes John Dybvig. Photo / APN
Opinion
Every year at this time schools run an awareness safety programme when it comes to dropping off and picking up kids. I understand and applaud this. However the other day I was parked directly across from St Heliers School, yes the very school that has recently run Jesus out of
town, to pick up my little girl.
The parking space was tight and my rear bumper was a bit over the far edge of the driveway, but it wasn't actually over the driveway, the driveway entrance was perfectly clear. My bumper was aligned with a bush that framed the driveway and the people who lived there had just driven into their driveway in a truck while I was parked there with no problems.
A traffic warden was walking up and down the street and he passed me several times without taking any notice of me so I felt I was okay. At one point I even called out to him: "Hey buddy, am I okay parking here?" He totally ignored me. So again I'm thinking I'm okay. I'm not double-parked, I'm not blocking anyone, I'm not even on the school side but across the street.
Then I see him in my rearview mirror taking a picture of my car so I know I'm going to get ticketed. I hop out of the car and ask the guy: "What's the story?" He proceeds to show me where my bumper is a bit over and how they're having a safety programme etc. I said I understand that but why were you walking back and forth without saying anything to me?
He said: "Because I was waiting until it was 10 to three when the school safety rules come into play." I stood there gob-smacked. In America that would be "entrapment" and against the law. Here I don't know all the particular rules, but I do know that what this warden did playing a waiting game and ignoring me is not in keeping with the spirit of the safety programme.
