ENGLAND: Ambulance on emergency call gets parking ticket!

• The incident attracted negative comments on social media.

A traffic warden in Dorset, England, slapped a parking ticket on an ambulance car attending a 999 emergency call. The paramedic rushed to treat a patient and parked the Rapid Response Vehicle in Christchurch, Dorset.

When the paramedic got back to the vehicle, carrying all her emergency equipment with her, she found the warden writing a ticket. The paramedic, who hasn't been named, protested and explained she was on an emergency but the warden did not listen and issued a fine, according to a Daily Mail report.Dorset County Council has since issued an apology and cancelled the ticket. The council wrote on Twitter: 'Having investigated the incident, this ticket has now been cancelled'. While a spokesman for the council added, 'The Civil Enforcement Officer issued the ticket after noticing that the vehicle hadn't moved for around 30 minutes and was unable to locate the driver.'

He further added, 'However, when the medic returned it became clear she was on duty, would therefore be exempt and was informed as such by the officer. But, wardens cannot cancel tickets themselves once issued. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.'

The incident attracted negative comments on social media with one person writing: 'Absolute jobsworths. Did the traffic warden really think that the driver of the car was out having a leisurely lunch?' While another wrote: 'Common sense seems to have disappeared in recent years.

Are councils that hard up that they instruct these idiots to ticket everything? A few days ago a warden ticketed a builder's wheelbarrow. What on earth is this country coming to?'