Auckland parking warden tickets mobility scooter outside Fitzroy dairy
The warden was on holiday. He brought the ticket book.
An Auckland Transport parking warden, in Fitzroy on annual leave, has ticketed a mobility scooter parked outside the dairy on Clemow Road. The infringement notice cites a front wheel "encroaching 8cm into the loading zone". The fine is $40.
The scooter belonged to Colleen Farquhar, 78, who had gone inside for a Trumpet and a Woman's Day. She came out to find a yellow envelope under the basket and a bloke in hi-vis photographing her front wheel.
"He said he was off-duty but couldn't help himself," Farquhar told The Daily Yarn. "I said, love, this isn't Ponsonby. He said rules are rules. I said you're on holiday, you knob."
The warden, who declined to give his name, said the scooter was "technically a vehicle" and the loading zone was "technically a loading zone". Asked whether he had jurisdiction in Taranaki, he said he was "issuing on principle".
Auckland Transport said the ticket was "not enforceable outside Auckland" and that the warden was "having a rough week". New Plymouth District Council added that the loading zone was decommissioned in 2019.
The ticket is pinned to the dairy noticeboard between a lost cat and a Zumba flyer. Farquhar has not paid it.
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Reader Letters
Trev_Hornby
Bloody ridiculous!
Garry (Hawera)
Unbelievable that a warden on holiday gets his kicks by ticketing a mobility scooter. Clearly, some people need to find a hobby or something.
conspiraKev
ATTENTION SEEKER. Auckland Transport’s just trying to control the whole country now, marking territory like a overgrown dog. Who's next? Parking meters in Kaitaia?
Sandra McKenzie
Fitzroy isn’t even Ponsonby, mate. No one around here takes loading zones that seriously. Just let Colleen have her Trumpet in peace.
Rational_Mike
Mate, that's not the point. It's about setting boundaries. If she parks where she should, this won't happen!
OldJimmy
Honestly, this reminds me of when they brought in those parking meters outside the RSA. Massive shambles and all over a couple of cents!
poppy_hates_parking
@Rational_Mike are you serious? It's a scooter on holiday like the guy should've been!
wayne1987
Clearly the warden is rooted. Even the council doesn’t recognize it as a zone. Time for everyone to calm down. It's just a piss-take.
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