Everyone hates traffic wardens. Well, many people do, and I'm usually in their number. In Devizes, we have two who seem to make it their job to hassle me wherever I park. It being a small town, they know I'm a wheelchair user. "No, this is for loading only". "Your disabled badge is the wrong way round. That's illegal". "This is a taxi bay: you can't park here".
A recent exchange was on the lines of "I'm going to be here for literally one minute. Someone's just gone into the shop to get a newspaper for me". "You can't stop here. It's a loading bay". "I'll be gone in less than a minute". "I'm not discussing this with you. I'm going to book you". He proceeds to get out his little black book. I decide it's probably safer to move on, to the confusion of the person who's gone into the shop for me. I'm keen to complain (me, complain?) but technically, the traffic warden is in the right. Yes, he could have been a bit more polite in his delivery, a little less aggressive, but he's correct in his interpretation of the traffic law.
Today I'm waiting in another loading bay for my coffee to be delivered, allowing myself a spot of indulgence. A traffic warden walks up and I prepare my "I am technically loading. I'm waiting for a coffee" speech. But to my surprise, he goes past me, talks to the driver in front (who's loading in a disabled parking bay) and comes back. "He'll be moving on in a moment, sir. The disabled space will be free for you then". I'm dumbfounded. Delighted. Another reminder for me to stop pigeonholing people.
