What is it with hazard lights?

That so many drivers are so bone idle is not just sad but staggering.

Supermarkets usually have ‘Disabled Parking’ and ‘Parent & Child’ parking close to the entrance.

I think they should introduce a third area, even closer, actually on the footpath right up against the entrance doors and designate it – ‘Lazy B******s Parking’. Perhaps the penny might drop?

Ian – I think the constable was wrong. Parking on the prohibited approach to a pedestrian crossing is extremely hazardous [especially for children] and is a serious driving offence. The police can still use any of the enforcement powers that are avaialable to parking attendants, it’s just that they don’t like to since they think that, because the primary role has been transferred away, it is low-level work not worthy of their time. However, the police do not need to issue a formal ticket in every such situation. A word from a police officer, and the driver knowing that “their card has been marked”, is usually sufficient deterrent to doing it again. There is less respect for parking attendants so I believe that an informal police caution is more valuable than an official penalty charge notice – after all, the object of the exercise is to get the vehicle moved away, not stuck there with impunity because a parking ticket is flapping on the windscreen.

John W, modern parking enforcement officers are a good thing. As you hint, they have no diecretion (=no arguments will work!). Their job is to record the ‘incident’, issue a penalty notice, and move on. If you try to argue or explain, they’re supposed to politely refer you to the disputation process – and that’s why they’re so useful.

If you have a legitimate reason to be parked/stopped in an awkward place and with hazards on, OK. You write or make an online protest, it’s considered, and you get excused. No problem. If you’re trying it on, and want to rant and bully the person to let you off – you can’t, but you may have the police called to remove you. I see that as REAL justice.

OK – so you’re saying that if you illegally overstay your time, the wardens should stay away to let you get away with it? I see you as someone who will always us a proper space, but overstays. You wouldn’t illegally park. The wardens should respect your right to try it on, but not that *** who breaks the law differently than you. Is this right?

No I see wardens as people out to make money and provide no other valuable service. Sure should those ticket who get delayed and arrive back at their vehicle 1 sec after the time, but heaven forbid they ticket people whose parking is dangerous. And I’ve never had a ticket, parking or otherwise, as I’m a good little citizen. I choose to shop online, as its easier and costs alot less even before parking fess are factored in.

Sorry, William – I was being a bit provocative! I can see many councils are being out to earn an extra revenue stream. But not from anyone who keeps the rules. The warden has the job of enforcing those rules, and as I said below, if they’re not enforced fairly or consistently, people get aggrieved to be caught – like the dangerous speeder who asks the ticketing bobby “why can’t you use your time usefully, catching real criminals like burglars?” Maybe last time he caused a near accident, some ‘real’ criminal was robbing his home! Personally, the wardens are there to make a living. All of those in our town (I know them all from meeting them on the job) are reasonable people who think that their job is a real public service and are proud to do the job fairly and honestly, without fuss or upsetting people more than necessary. You might have met the other kind I’ve heard of!

Now I can agree with all that 🙂

I just don’t get why the rules aren’t enforced consistently, as every ticket easy or otherwise will still be money. And any smart council official just need to suggest taking a photo of an illegally parked car and get a more expensive parking fine applied that way. Without much risk to the enforcement officer which is probably why they choose to ignore dangerously parked vehicles as their owners are likely to be around. Or heaven forbid a fixed camera installed overlooking dangerous parking areas.

I think there would be very few cash dispensers if there had to be parking spaces nearby. There’s usually a car park or road space somewhere within a five minute walk in my experience. Perhaps that’s too far for the lazy types who are also disorganised with their cash provisions and have to drive to the town centre to get some.

There are two bank branches with cash dispensers less than two miles from my home. Both are close to a busy crossroad with traffic lights. There are very few parking places nearby and those are usually occupied throughout the day. I think it would be better if these cash dispensers were put somewhere else.

Installing cash dispensers at supermarkets has bee a very sensible development.

I wasn’t being too serious in my previous reply but thinking further about parking outside banks there could be a case – on security and personal safety grounds – for physically preventing any parking immediately adjacent to a cash machine. Certainly their siting should now be reviewed in light of the ram raids that occur increasingly these days. As to hazard warning lights, perhaps the vehicle should also emit a loud audible warning as a deterrent to misuse of the lights.

That’s obvious, but better late than never if there is a serious risk of a shunt.

It’s worse than that, Harry. Because they generally get away with it, they then see it as a right to get away with it. The ones that ARE ticketed then get bitter and angry with the police for ‘victimising’ them. It’s a lose-lose situation. If you ask the police, though, they’d probably quote a lack of time – hence the civic enforcement brigade.