Unwitting motorists are being caught out by very underhanded tactics, which are increasingly being employed by some councils in England. There have been reports of motorists being issued with parking fines, in the time it takes them to walk from their car to a pay machine and back again.
More extreme case include Traffic Wardens dressing up in tree costumes, posing as letter boxes and even rubbish bins. They are also known to have painted yellow lines on the road, after motorists have parked in what they thought was an uncontrolled zone.
One motorist told how he was flagged down by a Traffic Warden and given a fine when he stopped on a yellow line. Another described how he stopped to help a woman whose car appeared to have broken down. When he went to assist her, she handed him a penalty notice.
A council spokesman denied that this was just over zealous Traffic Wardens and councils trying to generate income. He said "It's just a game we like to play with motorists. It keeps them on their toes and adds a bit of excitement to their day".
