Illegal parking attendants take motorists for ride

Several car owners were taken for a ride by illegal parking attendants last Thursday and Friday night in Valletta - ending up with tickets after they were instructed to park their vehicles on pavements and double yellow lines.

The incidents took place during the popular Voices concert at the Mediterranean Conference Centre. Drivers emerged to find parking fines attached to their windscreens.

Valletta mayor Alexei Dingli confirmed the scam and said a number of police officers and wardens were sent to the area on Friday evening to charge those posing as parking attendants.

A car owner who found the unwelcome ticket on his windscreen said the man acting as the parking attendant was very convincing, and made it seem as if he was operating a special scheme to facilitate parking for those attending the concert.

"We were told not to worry about blocking each other's access because we were all going to leave at the same time. There were some policemen in the area so I did not suspect any foul play," the driver said.

Pointing out that those responsible for the scam were not wearing the necessary Transport Authority tags, the mayor said those posing as parking attendants were making a quick buck illegally.

By the time of going to print, the police had not replied to questions sent by The Sunday Times over whether those issued with a parking ticket would be exonerated.