A 54-year-old woman who collapsed in the car park of a New World supermarket in Auckland, New Zealand, last month was brought back to life by a passer-by who performed chest compressions. After being treated by paramedics, she discovered her vehicle had received a parking ticket.
Parking ticket issued while woman was unconscious
The woman's car had overstayed the supermarket carpark's 90-minute time limit while she was being treated, leading a traffic warden to issue an $80 (£34.50) fine.
Her family contacted Smart Compliance Management, the company that manages the carpark, to explain the situation. The company responded with an email stating: "Smart Compliance Management has been contracted to provide fair and equal opportunity for parking at this car park. This is why a maximum stay time limit applies."
Company reduces fine after appeal
The email continued: "Customers are entitled to 90 minutes of parking. Your vehicle was parked for 341 minutes." It added: "Having considered your appeal in detail we have decided to uphold the Breach Notice as we believe that it was correctly issued in accordance with the terms and conditions advertised within the area concerned."
Smart Compliance Management did reduce the fine by $50, writing: "Due to the circumstances resulting in this Breach Notice, we are able to reduce this to a $30 administration fee."
Supermarket staff cover the fee
The woman's father told Stuff that the family found the request for money "offensive" after years of loyalty to the supermarket, but his daughter paid the fee because it was causing her stress.
Staff at New World then intervened and paid the $30 into the woman's account, which her father said was fair.
