Swansea traffic warden caught on camera refusing to give ticket to vehicle on double yellow lines ‘because that’s the boss’s car’
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Version 0 of 1. A man in Swansea who confronted traffic wardens over why they appeared to be ignoring an illegally-parked car was told that they were using their “discretion” not to give it a ticket – because it belonged to their boss. As a man who has himself experienced wardens deciding, with their “discretion”, to give him a ticket in that very spot before, Steve McMillan perhaps understandably felt he could not just let it slide. Filming the whole incident on his mobile phone, he can be seen confronting a warden who initially says that it hasn’t yet “been five minutes”. But when Mr McMillan explains that it clearly has – and that he has this recorded on his phone – the unnamed warden quickly goes on the defensive. Mr McMillan is asked for his name and address, before being told: “It’s my discretion and I’m leaving that car. The police have discretion, they pass it on to us and I'm allowed to give that discretion.” Another warden can be seen approaching as the argument heats up, and Mr McMillan says: “I'm just asking the question - how come you've allowed that car to park there for more than five minutes on double yellows and then walked away from the situation?” The other warden finally offers what may be an explanation for his colleague’s reticence, saying: “Which car? That one over, there? That's my boss's car.” Later in the video Mr McMillan is seen to approach the “boss”, who can be heard identifying himself as Steve Sheriff, the deputy parking services manager at Parking Services Swansea. When asked “why is it fair for you to park here on business and not me?”, Mr Sheriff is heard to reply: “All right, I shouldn't have really parked there, other than for the fact that I am on business looking into the offices here.” Mr McMillan says it is “despicable” and that he will write to complain. When he again asks to see a valid ticket printed on the vehicle, the warden returns that he is still “using his discretion” – and Mr Sheriff drives the car away. Posting the video to his personal Facebook page, Mr McMillan said: “Thought I would show everyone in Swansea how people in high places abuse theirs powers whilst they continue to penalise the public.” Swansea City and County Council was not available for comment when contacted by The Independent. |