Santa Handed Parking Fine by Traffic Warden Over His Sleigh
During the holiday season, parking is tight and the police have no patience for violators – even if you’re Santa. A Brit dressed as Santa Claus received a parking ticket from a traffic officer for stopping his sled in a car-free zone. Mick Worrall, 75, wore a Santa Claus suit as he parked the sleigh pulled by a three-wheeled bicycle in Worcester city centre, England. He was handing out candy and teddy bears to children and raising funds for a children’s charity when the traffic cop hit him with a $60 ticket. Read on to find out what happened next, whether Santa actually has to pay, and what bystanders had to say about it.
Worrall dismissed the quote, arguing that he was in the process of doing a good deed. The authorities appeared to be unperturbed. “I refused to take the ticket,” he told the telegraph. “I told the guard, ‘Send it to my address in the mail.’ He said, ‘Where is that?’ I said, ‘The North Pole’.” “If I have to, I will go to court dressed as Santa Claus,” he added. “I don’t pay a dime in fines for raising money for charity.”
Police said they would issue a ticket to Worrall because his sled was traveling in a “no-traffic” zone. “I wasn’t cruising the streets in the decorated trike,” Worrall replied. “I only crawled to my parking spot at less than 3 km/h before handing out festive gifts.” “I’ve done it every year and never had any problems. A police officer even posed for photos with me last year. Maybe the traffic cop was having a bad day or was just Scrooge, but it was petty to say the least. “
Twelve-year-old Jake Fox was in the area and witnessed the festive commotion. “I said to the traffic cop, ‘You can’t do that! Santa is doing something good,’” he said. “There were a lot of people gathered and Santa Claus was yelling at the traffic cop. At first I thought it was a trap, but the traffic cop went around the back of the vehicle to take photos of the license plates.” He added, “Santa Claus yelled, ‘You’re going on the cheeky list!’ A lot of people said, ‘You can’t do that to Santa Claus!’ He was angry.”
This was announced by a spokesman for Worcester City Council The Telegraph They did not want to comment on individual cases, but confirmed that the fine was imposed for “driving in a pedestrian zone”. Worrall’s friend Stuart Hackett witnessed the incident and spoke out for him. “There have to be rules — but it’s Christmas time,” argued Hackett, dressed as a Christmas tree. “You have to expect someone to come by as Santa to get people in the holiday spirit. I want them to cancel the ticket.”
Worrall has raised thousands of dollars for charity by dressing up as Santa Claus, news outlets reported. That year he raised funds for the New Hope Worcester Children’s Charity, which supports families whose children have disabilities and special medical needs. Though hurt, Worrall said he would return to the scene of the crime to further spread the holiday cheer. “I will not abandon the children,” he said. “I enjoy putting a smile on the children’s faces. I’m a little disappointed, but that won’t stop me. I’ve been doing this for years.”
