City parking officer opens up

'My brother calls me a parking Nazi”. The brother's joking – but others who've been stung by Tauranga City Council parking officer No. 011 might use ‘Nazi' in the malevolent, spiteful sense of the word.

I know they do – I've heard them. Parking tickets are a grudge payment and people don't like those who write them.


The grudge payment – when 011 strikes.

‘Peter' the parking officer shrugs it off, declaring: 'I'm not going to spend the entire day hang-dog because of it.”

He says the contempt comes with the territory – the job – and you deal with it.

Peter's out on the beat in Grey Street – he has this journalist in tow. I suggest we're both considered ‘bottom-feeders'. In the public perception neither of our vocations are among the most-liked or most-trusted.

You will know Peter, or 011, but we can't identify him. 'It's a security thing. And I have a family to look after,” says Peter. Fair enough.

'Is he the mean one with the hat,” sneers a colleague in the office. See what I mean?

The colleague parked illegally, broke a bylaw, got a ticket and is now transferring responsibility for her actions to Peter. It becomes his fault. And her opinion of the man is shaped by her own irresponsibility.

More shrugging and more smiling. 'I can't take on other peoples' problems,” explains Peter. 'They have to take ownership of their own actions.”

This is reinforced 10 metres up Grey Street. A woman glowers at 011.

'Don't these machines give change?” It's not a question, it's a challenge. No ‘hello', no ‘excuse me please', no ‘can you help please?' She's put $1 in the meter when 50 cents would have been enough and she's piqued.

'No – I'm sorry. There is no change Ma'am. Yes, I'm sorry.” Polite, smiley and as conciliatory as you please. This guy only has one setting and it's peacemaker.

Peter's smile, I suspect, has been surgically attached. It's a crucial tool of his trade.

It's disarming and defusing and it gets a lot of work. Except some people refuse to be defused. They don't want to be placated. They want to vent.

'Some people are nasty,” he admits. 'They will never like what I do or who I am. But I don't like everyone either.”

But why was he so apologetic to ‘Ma'am'? It was ‘Ma'am' who didn't read the instructions on the meter, who pumped too much money into the meter, who got huffy.

'I just want it to be a positive experience,” he explains. 'I'd like to think later, when common sense kicks in, that people will have learned something and next time will do things differently and properly.”

And yes, some people have even come back later to apologise. 'Now that's a nice feeling,” says 011.

But out there on the street I don't sense a lot of love. People eye him, eye us, suspiciously. People give him big space and a begrudging respect. And O11 wouldn't be their first choice for a dinner party, which is a shame because he has some good stories to tell.

Peter either doesn't sense the ill will or is immune to it. He just continues his charm offensive with small talk, greetings and well wishes, helping him, directing her, helping everyone. He can't and won't let people upset his day.

'I could spend all day every day with a long face,” he says, 'but I won't.”

By the way, he's a parking ‘officer', not a parking warden. His ID says so and 'officer sounds nicer than warden. Wardens look after prisoners – but you could say I take no prisoners”.

Let's scratch just below the epidermis of a parking officer – and 011 is not hardass.

He doesn't crawl from under a rock every morning with loathing and resentment towards mankind and especially recalcitrant motorists.

He doesn't go 'into town with the aim of p*ssing people off”. Yes, 011 is an eminently likeable, thoughtful, flat white-drinking, common, garden variety kind of Kiwi bloke .

'You seem surprised,” he says. I was a bit.

Peter was a mechanic by trade, a coach driver by choice and a parking officer by need.

He drifted into the job because he needed a job. His family – wife and daughters – are okay with it. 'They are aware there are some people out there who aren't very nice. They know I get abused and they know I can have a bad day at work.”

The parking officer is a family man with a deep Christian conviction, oh yes, and if he hadn't been a parking officer he might be doing Christian ministry work somewhere, doing God's work. He trained for it.

But right now he's doing TCC's work. He just slipped a $200 offence notice under a windscreen wiper for a ‘rego' which is more than two months out of date. Ouch!

Moments later another one – another $200 ticket. It is good coin and 011 has made enough to pay Tauranga City Council CEO's salary for three hours.

How does he feel? 'Why should I feel anything?” says a bemused Peter. 'I have to do my job and people have a choice when they get behind the wheel in the morning.”

The old-ish Nissan looks like it belongs to someone who couldn't afford the ‘rego' let alone the fine. I feel like my back is very exposed as we walk off up the street.

'Look, that person now has to confront the issue,” he adds. 'I'm helping them. It's a compliance note. And if they get a rego within 14 days and ask the council ‘please be nice' they may get let off.

'I always encourage them to contest tickets. The worst that can happen is they have to pay and at best they won't have to pay.”

But for Peter, he is doing noble work. 'I'm helping. I'm an ambassador for the city. We are the face of the Tauranga City Council that people see most and we want that to be a pleasant experience.”

And many of Peter's encounters are pleasant. 'Gidday boss,” from the street cleaner and 'Gidday mate,” from the crane driver. But they're not getting a ticket.

And after one hour we've chalked about 15 cars and issued just one $12 parking infringement notice. Parking officer 011 is well satisfied.

'That's a good beat,” he says. 'It shows cars are rotating, the traffic is moving – the system is working.” It doesn't matter whether he writes 10 tickets or 100 tickets because he doesn't have a quota.

There is room for common sense, discretion and goodwill in his job.

There's the Toyota displaying a parking ticket for another street at another time – but not all is as it seems.

'The engine is warm so he has just arrived. He might be off getting change for the machine.” No ticket. This is not the vindictive, money-grabbing enforcer that is the public perception.

What about violence. 'Mmmm,” says Peter, with his trademark calm and indifference.

He's been pushed a couple of times, never hit but he's gone close. Twice motorists have driven at him.

'They were trying to scare me. But I would like to think if they'd hit me they would have regretted it, they would have been sorry.”

He's also been showered in raspberry drink. 'I hate raspberry.” The offender later apologised.

But how does he reconcile those experiences with his obvious job satisfaction?

'I just love people, love dealing with them, love helping them.” Is that the Christian in him, a misguided faith in humanity or the council mantra?

'No, it's people who've kept me in the job these 18 years.”

And 011 remains unflappable and philosophical to the end. 'In all cases,” he says, 'beware of your surroundings, where you are and what you are doing. It is your responsibility.

'The rules, the parking bylaws, are there simply to assist greater society to work with itself.”

I think I understand and he has a very good point.

What about people who want to play parking roulette, who are constantly shifting their car to stay one ahead of a parking infringement notice?

'If you want to make it a sport then I will play,” he admits. 'But if you come second don't moan – if you lose don't get upset.”

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17 comments

NOT CONVINCED

Posted on 24-04-2015 10:57 | By Towball

My wife parked her car on Grey St at 11.40 am & received a $40 ticket by 11.55am on a Saturday morning when she was like alot of other likeminded people that parking is FREE on weekends . This is not the case when she phoned council to question the ticket & was subsequently told it only applies to off street parking & that was the total explanation. So why $40 on a saturday & only $12 in your presence ? .


Never presume

Posted on 24-04-2015 12:39 | By Twinkle Toes

Towball, if your wife had got out of the car and looked at the machine to see what the charge was (like most people do) and not presume it's free then she wouldn't of got a ticket. Simple. Lesson learnt.


Pay Up

Posted on 24-04-2015 14:52 | By Ankle

The fact your wife had not put any money in meter v expired ticket is the reason behind the difference in fine.


Really?

Posted on 24-04-2015 15:33 | By Mariana

O my goodness, I was also under the impression that one can park for free on a Saturday although the time limits would still apply. Once again I have decided to do everything in my power to avoid visiting the CBD.


What is wrong with some people

Posted on 24-04-2015 17:12 | By How about this view!

Everyone wants something for nothing these days. Some even think that they have special rights to free stuff because they have continued breathing for more that 65 years??? As far as I'm concerned, those TOO LAZY to walk a short distance from the free parking areas or to park-up and catch a BUS into town, should know the rules or pay the fines. I believe that I have spoken to the gentleman that features in this article and if so, I can confirm that he is a really nice guy doing a thankless task.


The Reason I Avoid

Posted on 24-04-2015 18:19 | By Jackman

This is the reason I avoid the CBD, and the reason why shops lie empty. Why would I want to go to shop there if it costs me money to park? I can park in other areas for free. Parking should be free for a limited time and then send in the vultures for their revenue gathering.


Exactly

Posted on 24-04-2015 19:40 | By Accountable

We as business people in the CBD have empathy with Towball and Mariana and have been in discussion with Councillors for some time now to try and improve this stupid situation. You may not believe this but our biggest problem is not the Councillors but the Council staff who are hell bent on making parking as difficult as is physically possible in the CBD. According to the Councillors they have no real input into anything apart from agreeing or disagreeing to propositions put forward by Council staff and as shown by the recent LTP submission forms the majority of documents and decisions have been presented or made without any input by the Councillors.It really is a very sad state of affairs when the employee controls the employer.If you have a problem with parking in the CBD e-mail your concerns to the Councillors.Find the addresses via the TCC website.


WHY

Posted on 24-04-2015 22:37 | By The Caveman

even bother to shop in the CDB when parking is FREE at Fraser Cove, Bay Fair, and numerous many other shopping centres around Tauranga. I can fully appreciate shop owners NOT renewing their leases, and I can also FULLY appreciate the problem of the building owners, who need to make a $ to pay the rates and maintain the buildings. The council and councillors do not appreciate what is required to maintain a commercial building. AND I have FOUR commercial buildings


Responsibility

Posted on 25-04-2015 08:50 | By Vuuren

Why do people constantly think the world owes them? If you have any commonsense you would check, if you have any decency you would pay the fine without kicking up a fuss. This doesn't just apply to parking fines. People need to take more responsibility for their actions and take ownership when they make mistakes instead of finding exucses and attempting to shift blame


Hind sight

Posted on 25-04-2015 11:22 | By Towball

Yes it was a mistake and a costly one but one that will not be repeated as it has been concluded to stay out of the CBD at any cost. Sad for the retailers but a situation council has imposed. Given the time of day the day of the week really is just Nazism as your article made reference to in the 1st paragraph. Typical council response more aggressive than IRD. Sincerely hope they enjoy counting their $40 fine in 10 cent coins, will show same courtesy when water rates & rates due equally. Last laugh at five minutes before closing .


CBD parking

Posted on 25-04-2015 12:07 | By Kaimai

If I have to pay to park, I don't shop there - figure it out CBD landlords, you want tenants, tenants want customers - Gate Pa, Fraser Cover, Bayfair win hands down


Some are missing, aware of the main issue ...

Posted on 25-04-2015 12:54 | By Murray.Guy

The CBD is singled out for 'special treatment', the double dipping regime that Council imposes on those who choose to support the CBD retailers and businesses. Please understand, the on street parking incurs NO cost to the ratepayer as it has already been paid for, just as it has in the balance of the cities shopping precincts. There is NO valid rational that has ever been provided by anybody that supports on street parking fees in just one shopping district. The trials carried out by TCC over recent years have been deliberately designed to fail as they have been confusing and very brief. Start by applying integrity to the management of our parking by applying the same policy city wide, pay everywhere or NOWHERE.


Really

Posted on 25-04-2015 14:28 | By Bop man

I have been in Tauranga 35 years and the CBD has always been a pay parking area it is about time you all got over yourselves and just accepted the fact. Please go to your big faceless malls with no character that means better parking for me and I don't mind paying. And if I get a ticket so be it, as Peter said contest it if I get off cool if not tough.


Parking buildings

Posted on 26-04-2015 10:57 | By SARAHM0695

I always just park in one of the parking buildings when I do need to go in to the Tauranga cbd. That way I can park my car as long or short as I like with out the need to guess.


Why?

Posted on 26-04-2015 16:55 | By Accountable

The question is why should you pay to park in the CBD when you can park in every other Council owned car park for free? Continuing with parking charges is the critical difference between the CBD surviving or dying a slow death.


they need to show some discretion.

Posted on 19-05-2015 11:11 | By jed

I parked in the pilot bay boat parks on a midweek cold wet and generally nasty winters day, to quickly have some lunch and enjoy the view. Until this officious parking warden comes up and orders me to move or he'll issue a ticket. I point out that all of the parks are empty and that I can move if a bunch of boats suddenly appear -- parking warden scowls and says it does not work that way. This guy was just a power freak and enjoyed using his council backed authority to make someones day a little less nice.


Level Playing Field

Posted on 23-05-2015 10:57 | By Baystyle

Council has painted themselves into a corner by spending so much on parking meters but it really is time to rip them all out and set the CBD back onto a survival path.


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