Santa Claus Fined For Parking Violation By ‘Smug’ Traffic Warden

You’d thing if there was one person/supernatural being in the universe that was entitled to special parking privileges, it would be Santa Claus. However, one particularly gung-ho and enthusiastic traffic warden in the U.K. begged to differ.

Dressed as Father Christmas and doing his bit to spread a little bit of seasonal goodwill and festive cheer to all and sundry, volunteer Chris Uttley was towing Santa’s sleigh through the sleepy little market town of Hinckley in Leicestershire when he stopped the sleigh outside the town’s supermarket to pick up some of Santa’s little helpers, who were going to help the bearded philanthropist on a charity collection run for the Hinckley Round Table.

Speaking to the Hinckley Times, Chris relieves his utter frustration at what happened next.

“We were about to go out collecting for charity. I stopped the sleigh outside the Co-op because I was waiting for the rest of the volunteers to join me.

“Because I didn’t want to block the entrance with my car, I parked briefly on the zig-zag lines. I couldn’t leave the sleigh in case it was vandalised. I was just transferring some collection tins from my car to the sleigh when she pounced.

“My back was turned for no more than 30 seconds. As I turned round, I found a traffic warden issuing me a ticket. I explained the circumstances, only to be told nothing could be done. This now falls to the charity to pick up the parking ticket out of much-needed funds given to us by the public. I thought it was very heartless.”

As a result, the grinch of a traffic warden may well find herself on the naughty list this Christmas, but apparently, according to Santa Chris, she has no remorse for her lack of Christmas spirit.

“I found the warden was very smug. It was as though she was waiting for me to move, and she pounced on us. Obviously, I would never have parked there normally but you’d have thought there would be some special discretion. We have spoken to the county council and I hope they will do something about this.”

A Leicestershire County Council spokesman said, “We are reviewing the ticket and looking carefully at the reasons the driver has given for parking on the zig-zag lines next to a pedestrian crossing.”