Perils of parking rangers Author: By MEGAN LEVY Date: 24/11/2005 Publication: Illawarra Mercury
HE has been spat on, chased by a car and had death threats levelled at him and his family.
Does this man's job make him the most hated worker in the region?
Parking ranger Paul* would have to agree.
"You would be amazed at what's my fault," he said. "I have been shoved, people have raised their fists against me. You're dealing with some very aggressive people."
Paul is a dreaded brown bomber, one of the region's parking guardians who are perceived as prowling the streets and pouncing on unsuspecting motorists.
But while it's easy to cry foul and curse the hefty fine, few can comprehend what it's like to wear the dreaded fluorescent vest.
The Mercury joined Paul on a shift last week for an inside look at the life of a parking ranger.
After a quick sweep of the region's clearways (well done Wollongong - no fines there), it's back to school to see if mum and dad motorists are behaving themselves.
"Sic them, sic them! I'm sick and tired of seeing that woman in the Magna," is the cry from one disgruntled motorist, yelling at Paul through her car window.
Miss Magna appears to be a problem parker, who has yet again illegally stopped to drop off her kids, causing traffic chaos out the front of the school.
"Schools are interesting places," Paul said. "Some people are very thankful that you're here, but then there are other people who think we're nothing but parasites who prey on innocent people."
Three fines are handed out before he tackles Wollongong's CBD.
Judging by the glares and snide remarks muttered in his direction, it's just as well Paul has a black belt in verbal judo. Literally.
Verbal judo is a short course in conflict resolution that all parking rangers are required to complete before starting work.
It has proved valuable in many situations, although not all irate motorists can be talked down.
In one particularly bad case, Paul had to jump out of the way when a motorist who had just received an infringement notice chased him in his car and attempted to run him over.
One of Wollongong's full-time rangers is on stress leave, after her arm was slammed against a car.
Paul has just one message for motorists - read the signs and obey the rules and there will be no problem.
"We don't book innocent people. If someone's committed an offence, they get a ticket. It's black or white when it comes to that," Paul said.
"People always say it's hard to get a park in Wollongong. Well, just imagine if people parked wherever and whenever they wanted, imagine the chaos. People don't appreciate that a lot of the things we do are for their safety."
* Not his real name.