A vehicle in Portadown was ticketed despite a note left by a chemist worker to say the driver had been hospitalised.
The incident, which happened in the West Street area of the town yesterday (Monday), was highlighted by Upper Bann DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley.
In a post on social media he said: “Really disappointing that a car was ticketed on West Street after the driver was hospitalised this morning – a kind staff member from Boots left this note to vouch for their illness, but it was disregarded.
“Personally feel this could have been easily avoided by a simple conversation with the person that left the note.
“I have written to the Department for Infrastructure to request that this is rescinded immediately.”
The staff member who left the note commented below the post, saying: “Before I left it I spoke to the traffic warden. He did say he has to issue a ticket but the owner can reclaim, as he took a photo of the note. Awful that the person has to go through more stress!”
A Department for Infrastructure spokesperson told Armagh I: “Traffic Attendants across Northern Ireland are trained to carry out their enforcement duties in a consistent fashion and this removes the scope for them to apply discretion when carrying out their duties. PCNs can however be cancelled following an appeal if there are mitigating circumstances and supporting evidence can be provided.
“Once an appeal to this PCN has been received, the Department will review the circumstances of this PCN. In the meantime, the Department send our best wishes to the individual for a speedy recovery.”
