Parking Ticket on Police Car? This Isn't Enforcement, It's Idiocy!
When bureaucracy trumps common sense, we all lose. This latest incident shows just how broken the system really is.
When I saw this image of a Devon and Cornwall Police car parked outside a medical facility—slapped with a parking ticket, no less—I felt equal parts disbelief and frustration. For those unfamiliar, this isn't just a case of an eNfORcEmEnt OfFIcEr misjudging the situation. This is an example of bureaucracy running amok, of "rules are rules" thinking being prioritised over common sense and basic humanity.
The image was shared on X by _IanAdams, and while it's been some time since I've witnessed such a blatant failure of common sense by an 'enforcement officer,' I knew it was only a matter of time before a civilian on a power trip decided to flex their authority in the most pointless way possible. Slapping a ticket on a police car isn't a power move—it's a clear display of misplaced priorities. Instead of earning respect, all they've done is ensure everyone sees them for what they are: someone desperately out of their depth.
Imagine this: A police officer pulls up to the hospital, possibly transporting a prisoner in need of urgent medical attention. Maybe they're there supporting NHS staff who've just been assaulted, or perhaps they're seeking treatment for injuries sustained in the line of duty. Regardless of the reason, one thing is certain—they're not there to loiter or for a leisurely stroll. And yet, someone—a "jobsworth" in the truest sense of the word—decided it was their moral duty to issue a parking ticket to this clearly marked emergency response vehicle.
Who Exactly Benefits Here?
Who suffers when an emergency vehicle gets ticketed? First, the officer now has an unnecessary distraction, a literal piece of red tape that they'll have to waste their time dealing with. It's not the officer who ultimately pays the fine, though. If the ticket isn't successfully appealed—and trust me, appealing these things takes admin time and resources—it's the taxpayer who foots the bill. That's right, you and me. So, congratulations to the ticket issuer—you've effectively charged the public for a "crime" that wasn't one.
Meanwhile, the officer's attention could have been focused on their actual job—keeping the public safe, assisting a victim, or ensuring that an incident doesn't escalate further. Instead, they'll be wasting their shift dealing with an administrative headache, and for what? To satisfy the ego of someone who can't see beyond the edges of their rulebook that must be firmly attached to their ego?
A Policy of Safety, Not Bureaucracy
Emergency services vehicles are not parked in specific spots for convenience—they're parked where they need to be. For officer safety, for patient safety, for public safety. If a police car is close to the hospital entrance, it's likely for a very good reason. Time is often critical in these scenarios, and forcing officers to circle around looking for "approved" parking could literally cost lives.
It's one thing if a civilian blocks an ambulance bay or illegally parks in a way that impedes emergency services. That's a no-brainer—issue the ticket. But a marked police car, parked in a location that doesn't obstruct anyone, clearly performing their duties? There's no justification for penalising that.
Common Sense Is Free—Use It
What's particularly maddening about this situation is how avoidable it is. All it takes is a smidge of awareness, a moment to think, "Why is this police car here?" before reaching for the ticket pad. And if you're a parking enforcement officer reading this, please take note: You have the discretion to not issue a ticket. Use it. Ask yourself if the vehicle in question is genuinely causing a problem, or if you're just adding unnecessary complications to someone else's already stressful day.
This kind of behaviour doesn't just waste time and money—it erodes trust. When the public sees emergency vehicles getting ticketed, it undermines faith in the system. It makes us wonder: If bureaucracy can't even recognise the needs of first responders, how can it possibly serve the rest of us effectively?
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The person responsible for issuing this ticket needs a serious reality check. They're not just wasting everyone's time—they're actively creating obstacles for the people we rely on in emergencies. At the very least, they should face a final written warning for this lapse in judgment. And as for whoever oversees them? Perhaps it's time to revisit training and policies to ensure that this nonsense doesn't happen again.
Emergency services workers put their lives on the line for us every single day. The least we can do is give them the space—literally and figuratively—to do their jobs without interference. So, to the "jobsworth" who thought they were doing their duty by ticketing this police car: Please, grow up. The rest of us have real problems to deal with.
OPINION: We already know that the clowns have taken over the circus. But now their jesters are running amok with impunity!
One only has to look at some of the people who have been handed Knighthoods in the New Year's Honour list to realise that buffoonery is often rewarded in a country where results mean nothing, but political loyalty means everything, regardless of how bad you are at your job (you know who you are!). The recent debacle with a Devon and Cornwall Police car being slapped with a parking ticket outside a hospital is yet another glaring example of this systemic incompetence.
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