Traffic warden hits taxi driver with £70 fine for leaving cab for ‘less than 60 seconds’ to help elderly customer get in

A PRIVATE hire driver was hit with a £70 parking ticket after stopping for “less than 60 seconds” to help an elderly customer into his car.

Victor Isaac, 51, got out to collect the frail woman, who uses a walker and stick, but the warden had issued the ticket by the time he got back.

He said: “By punishing me for this, you’re discriminating against people who need my help.”

Mr Isaac was collecting the regular passenger from a 'bar and eatery' in Romsey, Hants, to take her to her home a mile away.

He pulled up and then got out of his car to assist the woman whom he describes as 'very unsteady on her feet'.

But on the way back to his vehicle he spotted a warden writing up a £70 parking fine, as he had stopped on double yellow lines.

He said: "As I came out of The Phoenix bar I could see the warden standing by my car and started to shout to her - I was saying 'I'm coming'.

"When she turned around, she realised I hadn't just left the car there, I was coming back with a customer who needed my help.

"Once they've printed out the ticket they have to issue it and she just left.

"But she took a bit of abuse from people on the pavement. One person said 'shame on you'."

ELDERLY 'NEED TO GET AROUND'

Mr Isaac, from Totton, near Southampton, argued that the female warden 'should be more sensitive to these things'.

He added: "There are a lot of elderly people in Romsey. How are we supposed to help the elderly people who rely on us to get them around?

"My customer was really upset - she said 'I'm sorry that I've caused this', but I said 'don't worry, it's not your fault."

Mr Isaac, of Totton, Hants, plans to appeal the fine.

He said: "I pulled up near delivery vans which had been there longer than I had, but I went back outside and they had no ticket.

"The warden should not have given me a ticket - I thought we had about a ten minute grace period.

"I have proof of me getting out of the car at 12.18pm and the ticket issued for 12.19pm."

Test Valley Borough council said: “The ticket was issued in line with our enforcement policy.”

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