Robin Hood taking on city parking wardens

'Your meter expired; however, we saved you from the king's tariffs' the group says. Photo / Getty Images

Anti-government activists styling themselves as Robin Hood and his Merry Men, who top up parking meters to stop strangers receiving tickets, are being sued by authorities in New Hampshire.

The city of Keene is asking a judge to ban the five men and one woman from coming within 15m of its traffic wardens, who claim that they are being harassed while trying to do their jobs. The activists say the city is furious at being deprived of up to US$40,000 ($48,500) in parking fines after 4000 workers and shoppers were "saved" from a ticket while running late.

"Your meter expired; however, we saved you from the king's tariffs," the group says, in notes left under errant drivers' windscreen wipers. They sign off: "Robin Hood and his Merry Men."

The group is alleged in the lawsuit to have "regularly, repeatedly and intentionally taunted, interfered with, harassed, and intimidated" the city's three traffic wardens since December.