Traffic warden nabs bus picking up passengers
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Motorists often complain that traffic wardens issue parking tickets for the silliest of reasons. Yesterday, though, the wardens seemed to have excelled themselves. One issued a ticket to a bus at a stop picking up passengers.
Passengers on the number 77 in Lever Street in Manchester city centre laughed as the driver, Chris O'Mahoney, tried to reason with the warden. Mr O'Mahoney thought it was a practical joke. But he was issued with a £40 ticket.
The bus company, Bluebird, complained to Manchester City Council, which employs Control Plus, the agency the warden worked for. Bluebird's operations manager, Nick Painter, said: "If buses are illegally parked, by all means give them a ticket – the wardens are only doing their jobs – but not when they are picking up passengers. Common sense must come into it."
A spokeswoman for the council, which make annual profits of £1.45m from parking fees, said the warden had displayed "lack of judgement". The ticket had been rescinded, she said, and the warden had been ordered to undergo "appropriate retraining".
Mr O'Mahoney said: "There were a couple of posties on the bus going back to their depot and they were in hysterics."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments