Hillary Clinton ticketed by fearless London traffic cop

Image
Press Trust of India London
Last Updated : Oct 16 2013 | 6:30 PM IST
An unfazed London traffic warden has slapped an 80-pound fine on a limousine used by former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton for parking for 45 minutes without paying.
The fine was put on the silver Mercedes as the 65-year- old former US first lady attended an event at a leading think -tank on Friday as her security staff failed to buy the 3.30 pound ticket required to park the vehicle for an hour on the exclusive St James' Square in central London.
Her security staff were seen discussing the penalty notice with a Westminster Council traffic warden, but he refused to remove the ticket, the BBC reported today.
Clinton currently does not enjoy diplomatic status or number plates.
According to a photographer, her bodyguards got of out of their vehicle into the drizzle after the unidentified warden issued the ticket. Voices were raised, a badge was flashed and fingers pointed, but nothing fazed the attendant, something Londoners have long grown used to.
Westminster City Council cabinet member for business Daniel Astaire said: "The former US Secretary of State was parked for nearly 45 minutes without paying.
"I'm sure she will understand that we have to be fair to everyone, regardless of their status on the world stage."
"For future reference, Mrs Clinton can now download a new parking app for her iPhone which will tell her in real time where a parking space is available in Westminster, the only place in London where this is possible," Astaire said.
Clinton was awarded this year's Chatham House Prize in recognition of her contribution to international diplomacy and work on behalf of gender equality and opportunities for women and girls.
She has not commented on the ticket, the report said.
The fine would be reduced to 40 pounds if the possible future leader of the free world pays up within 14 days, The Telegraph reported.
It is not known if Clinton intends to pay the fine. The US embassy In London referred enquiries to Bill Clinton's charitable foundation in New York. The foundation in turn did not respond, the paper said.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Oct 16 2013 | 6:30 PM IST

Next Story