Locks and Security News: your weekly locks and security industry newsletter
17th April 2024 Issue no. 701

Your industry news - first

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Emergency locksmith parking fine while helping a customer

An emergency locksmith was slapped with a parking fine while he was trying to help someone get back into their house, writes Sandish Shoker of the Coventry Telegraph.

Paul Stephenson, who runs Ball Hill Locksmiths, had left his van parked in a residents' parking bay while he dealt with the emergency at a flat in Greyfriars Road, city centre.

But as the permit to park was locked inside the flat he left a sign on his windscreen to say he was attending the emergency.

When he got back to the car he was shocked to discover he had been fined £40 by private clamping firm National Clamps. Paul, who is registered as an emergency locksmith and is often called out to help police gain entry to properties, is refusing the pay the fine, which escalated to a whopping £216.

The 33-year-old said: "I could have paid the £40 no problem. I have had parking tickets on my own private vehicle and understand it if I am parked where I shouldn't be, and I have paid them. But I won't pay this out of principle.
"I am a member of the emergency services union and clearly left a sign in my windscreen to say I was on an emergency call out, and gave the number of the flat.
"Traffic wardens in Coventry are usually quite understanding so I've never had this problem before, but this private firm is just ridiculous.

"I fully understand I need a permit but it was stuck in the property. How was I to get it? The whole thing has been unfair. Are they going to start clamping AA vans and police vehicles now?"

9th June 2010