Paignton man's 'parking angel' plea
A furious motorist who was fined after going minutes over his parking time is calling on people to help others out by buying car parking tickets for those whose tickets are just about to expire.
Roger Clayton came up with the idea after being fined for going seven minutes over his own parking time and now buys tickets for others.
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Roger Clayton
Mr Clayton, from Paignton is now asking others to become “parking meter angels” by putting 50 pence in to get a ticket for a stranger’s car if they notice it is about to run out and they face being fined.
He has already begun by buying a ticket and sticking it on a stranger’s car windscreen in Paignton.
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He said: “It’s something I came across at Paignton beach.
“I saw a traffic warden standing with his machine, so I went over and noticed the car’s ticket was about to run out.
“So I just bought another ticket put it under the car’s windscreen wiper and walked away.
“The traffic warden didn’t say anything – there’s not a lot he could say, really. His face wasn’t very happy though.”
The 47-year-old added: “I’ve heard of this in other countries. I’d like other people to pass it on – spread some good happiness. I felt good.
“We all work hard – if you’ve only got 50 pence to put in a meter or you get stuck in a queue it’s not really your fault you over run your time.”
Speaking of his own experience of being fined, he explained: “I went in to two shops next to each other and I got caught up in a big queue. I was parked four minutes away from the shop and I was seven minutes late.
“If somebody had done it for me it would have saved me £25.”
Mr Clayton added that he didn’t feel he was breaking any laws.
“I’m only buying a ticket and putting it on another car,” he said. “I don’t see how they could stop you really.
“There’s quite a few times I’ve given my ticket with time left on it to another driver.
“I can’t see us being arrested for it.”
His views found support with others in Torbay.
Posting a message on a website, Hazel Smith wrote: “These meters are enough to drive people away from the Bay. I am sure traffic wardens are on commission – it’s really upsetting getting a ticket.
“Nice thought, wish you had been around for me.”
A Torbay Council spokesman told the BBC he did not see the practice as a problem.
Comments
by davies167
Tuesday, July 03 2012, 2:26PM
“Riviara I would love you to do 22 years service in the Army get Arthritis in every joint in your body have 3 heart attacks and due to your army pension not be able to claim any disability allowences.
I cant afford to pay for parking”
by sparro
Sunday, July 01 2012, 8:28AM
“@ Riviera2. What is this everything else, given to blue badge holders? I would love to know, as”
by riviera2
Sunday, July 01 2012, 12:46AM
“You've taken a photo of a street machine not a car park machine. Blue badge holders do pay in the car parks. So they should. They get everything else just given to them and have the cheek to moan about paying for parking.”
by davies167
Saturday, June 30 2012, 11:23PM
“Ned Flanders
Have a look around Dawlish Warren and other tourist places and you will find a completly different Picture.”
by riviera2
Tuesday, June 26 2012, 11:53PM
“It isn't Torbay Council's fault there was a queue in the bank either. It is your responsibility to put enough money on to give you time realistically to do what you need to do. There's always a queue in the bank. You knew standing in the queue that you would run over your parking. You took the gamble and you lost. No point in *****ing. Pay it in 2 weeks and it'll only cost you half that. Still would have been cheaper to put an extra 50p in the meter though.”
by mrdanpryce
Monday, June 25 2012, 10:04PM
“I went 2 MINS over my ticket time and got fined £50! TWO MINUTES! and the 'Parking Enforcement Officer' as they like to be called, just smiled and said 'sorry mate, you're over' nothing i can do, here is your ticket... i cant help there being a que in the bank really can i?!
Absolute outrage it was, a shame this lovely gentleman wasnt around when i needed him!”
by Ned_Fl4nders
Monday, June 25 2012, 11:00AM
“And here is proof, fresh of the camera.
http://tinyurl.com/769x93s”
by Ned_Fl4nders
Monday, June 25 2012, 10:52AM
“davies167
Badgeholders dont have to pay to park.”
by Powerhammer
Sunday, June 24 2012, 10:45AM
“Actualy the officer would have printed off a admin ticket showing the correct code for that car park to make sure peoples tickets are the correct one for that car park and not been used from another one.. Sheesh you people have no brains.”
by riviera2
Sunday, June 24 2012, 9:33AM
“Actually the officer would have been checking the machine was working before issuing a ticket wouldn't he?”