I Have Got To Give You A Ticket Or I Will Lose My Job!

is what I guess the traffic warden said as he gave Mum of 3 a ticket, the fact that Mrs Batkin, 40, had pulled over as her disabled son began gasping for breath as she drove him to a children's hospice, Penny Batkin instantly pulled on to the pavement and dashed from the front seat to his aid, She duly began to resuscitate four-year- old Freddie, who is profoundly disabled, in the back seat, unknown to her, her actions had been captured on camera by traffic wardens - and she later received a £100 fine for parking on the pavement, Mrs Batkin, 40, felt sure that Richmond Council would waive the fine when she appealed, describing the circumstances, but the council refused to back down, despite receiving her letter of explanation, which had the support of her GP,

In a letter, an appeals officer quoted a section of the Highway Code relating to parking on the pavement and insisted it had been unnecessary to park there, Mrs Batkin said the response was 'insulting', adding: 'I hadn't parked, I had stopped to deal with an emergency situation.' Mrs Batkin was on her way to the Shooting Star Children's Hospice in Hampton when her son Freddie, 4, fell ill, local charity Richmond Aid, which gives disability advice and information, said it was stunned by the incident, chief executive Margaret Gallagher said: 'We are just so appalled that we struggle to find the words, 'Surely a life and death situation has to constitute sufficient cause to allow this lady to tear up the fine.'

but in a moment of clarity (which would be called common sense if it were not Richmond council) a spokesman for the Council said it had now been decided to cancel the parking ticket, He added: 'The appeals officer had not fully appreciated the true sense of urgency, We have now reviewed the matter further and have decided to cancel the penalty charge notice, We apologise for any inconvenience or distress caused to Mrs Batkin.'

so the publicity surrounding the case had nothing to do with it then? the appeals officer already turning down the first appeal! morons, sorry if I have insulted real morons, but this ticket issuer does not need more practice to become one!