camden-news-yellowlines

Publications by New Journal Enterprises

Home

Archive

Competition

Camden New Journal - by SIMON WROE
Published: 1 November 2007

The CCTV car parked on yellow lines at the corner of Winchester Road

Double yellow line double standards

ON the evidence of this picture, you might think the traffic wardens responsible for this spot of parking should start their rounds by ticketing their own car.
But apparently Camden parking officers have double standards when it comes to double yellows.
Freddy Khalastchy, a resident in Fellows Road, Belsize Park, snapped the CCTV smart car on his camera phone last Friday when he discovered it straddling the yellow penalty lines on the corner of Winchester Road and Fellows Road.
Mr Khalastchy, who has had his share of run-ins with parking officers in the past, said: “They were parked on double yellow lines, dangerously close to a corner trying to take photographs of other cars breaking the law. They should respect the law themselves before trying to enforce it on others.”
He added: “Double yellow means double yellow. Parking officers shouldn’t endanger other drivers just because they’re trying to write more tickets. How low can they stoop?”
It seems though, it is one law for the council and another for its public.
While most drivers would be slapped with an instant fine for impinging double yellow lines on the borough’s streets, a council spokeswoman explained that some parking enforcement vehicles carried special permits, allowing them to flout protocol.
She said: “Certain Council vehicles carry a permit which enables them to park anywhere in the borough – including on double yellow lines – if it is for the purposes of carrying out enforcement duties.
“All drivers are however encouraged to be judicious and park carefully.
“Drivers of the vehicle photographed are CCTV enforcement officers and for the purposes of their job are allowed to park where necessary to carry out surveillance and enforcement duties.”

Comment on this article.
(You must supply your full name and email address for your comment to be published)

Name:

Email:

Comment: