Traffic wardens and parking tickets are something on which most people have opinions.
Traditionally, traffic wardens have numbered among the nation's most hated figures, along with other professions such as journalists...
Wardens are supposed to keep traffic moving smoothly, patrol the streets looking out for illegally parked vehi
cles and write tickets when rules are broken.
However for some time it seems a lot of us have been getting away with bending those rules assuming that you won't get fined.
We have been used to a lack on wardens on the streets to get away with parking on yellow lines.
That was until the army of new council-run kerbside guardians started pounding the streets and stamping out all offenders – serious and the not so serious.
This week a blue badge holder in Matlock is warning others against ticket-happy wardens after being fined for parking in a spot he has used for years.
And I have to confess I too have been caught out. I had parked on a back street in Chesterfield, outside a friend's house where I have parked for years, not blocking the road or causing problems.
Of course this is no excuse as I was parked illegally on a yellow line and I didn't expect a traffic warden to be lurking round the corner.
While I nipped to the shop my friend pleaded with the warden not to issue a ticket – but it was too late, it was in the system. I was furious but when I'd calmed down I had to accept I was in the wrong and paid the fine. It has certainly made me think twice about where I park.
The problem is many towns are becoming a nightmare for cars.
If councils want residents and tourists to visit and spend money they need to be providing somewhere easy to park and make sure the rules are clear.
