THIS is the moment a Poole man was slapped with a £75 fine as he helped an elderly disabled gent on his mobility scooter.
His kind actions were snapped by a Borough of Poole camera car, but despite them clearly showing him struggling to help a man in trouble – the fine was issued and the council refused to budge.
Captured on camera is Steve Paddon from Parkstone and his future father-in-law Mick White, 75, behind the In-Excess store in Ashley Road.
Electrician Steve was picking up three fence posts for Mick in his van on October 20. With the collection point occupied, he stopped the van on the roadside.
But the 30 second job took longer after his fiancée’s dad, who suffers with a painful degenerative illness, lost his balance and got his mobility scooter stuck in a ditch by the wall.
Steve went to help him – and that’s when the camera car clocked them.
Steve, a former corporal, who left the RAF after 12 years this summer, told the Echo: “They would have seen me struggling and still had the audacity to take a photo for evidence – but not stopped to ask if we needed help.”
He added: “I would have stopped to help whether I knew Mick or not – but it’s almost like they’re saying you can’t stop to help someone in need – you’ve got to find a parking space first.
“I think it’s disgusting. These people are supposed to be helping the community? I don’t think so.
“It does take a human being to take a look at these things and see what’s going on and use some judgement.”
Mick, whose co-ordination, movement and balance are severely impacted by degenerative neurological disorder multiple-system atrophy, which also leaves him in constant pain, has now paid his future son-in-law’s fine.
He said: “I can’t let him pay it – he was doing me a favour. It did upset me though.
“If I’d fallen off my scooter what is someone supposed to do – just drive past? That was the annoying part – they just took the photo and that was it, they weren’t interested if I was alright. If you become disabled don’t expect anyone to stop and help you. They might get punished for it.”
Jason Benjamin, parking services manager, Borough of Poole said: “Any vehicle parked on a pavement in a road where there are clearly marked no loading or waiting restrictions will automatically receive a penalty charge notice when patrolled by the camera safety car. This will also apply to all Blue Badge holders.
Inconsiderate parking is an issue as it can put pedestrians and other motorists at risk.
“However motorists do have the right to appeal a decision to issue penalty charge notices.”
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