Tough way to earn meal ticket

Parking warden Nazim Molla. Photo / Herald on Sunday

It's barely 30 minutes into Thursday's shift when Auckland city parking officer Nazim meets his first unhappy customer.

He's working outside the Auckland District Court when two women who have just received a $200 fine spot him across the street.

"You little s***t, f***k off," one says, clutching the ticket.

Nazim keeps walking: "That's nothing," he says.

When the Herald on Sunday approaches the women to point out they've been fined for failing to display a vehicle registration, not a parking offence, they're unrepentant.

"He can't f***ken do that. He can get f***ked."

Nazim says he'll listen to complaints and advise how to lodge an objection, "but with someone who starts off with the f-word, the best thing is just to walk away".

Officers have a panic button on their radios which calls the nearest colleague to their aid. He's used it once, after being shoved by a man parked on yellow lines outside a school.

Nazim radioed for police help and the attacker fled, saying: "Next time I see you I'll break your bones."

In one hour this week, Nazim issued three $200 tickets for unregistered cars, a $40 ticket for parking in a loading zone and four $12 parking fines.

Everyone gets at least five minutes' grace, he says, "in case they've just gone to the dairy to get change".

Abusive people are the minority, and after three years Nazim says he still loves the job.