A woman who got a parking ticket for displaying a disabled badge upside down has accused Tendring Council's parking attendants of being over-zealous.
Jeanette Murphy, 68, and her disabled husband, John, left their car in a parking bay in West Avenue, Clacton, with the badge in the window.
The couple, of Dulwich Road, Holland-on-Sea, returned to find they had landed a £30 fine because the permit was not displayed correctly.
The Evening Gazette revealed last week the council issued 15,000 penalty charge notices in the first 12 months since it took over from Essex Police.
The collection rate is eight per cent higher than predicted, which has put the council £27,000 ahead of target.
Mrs Murphy, who failed in a bid to overturn the decision, said it was proof the council is too keen to punish motorists.
A spokesman for the parking services said: "Our parking attendants are not becoming fussy. The badge was displayed upside down and it was not possible for the parking attendant to verify the relevant details."
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Thursday, February 9, 2006
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