Arrogant wardens

I would like to relate an incident which happned to me on March 10 at around mid-day in Wied iz-Zurrieq.

I was parking my car when two male wardens approached me. I was not alone in the car; I was accompanied by a university student. These wardens demanded to see my car licence and ID card. At that point I did not realise the exact nature of my offence and asked them to explain. One of them reiterated that they had been following me with their car all the way from Zurrieq roundabout and accused me of using my mobile phone all the way while driving.

Knowing that I did not even have a mobile phone with me that day, I was shocked when his colleague confirmed the same statement. Arrogantly, they then accused me of hiding my mobile phone inside the car, which I made them search. But they were not interested - all they wanted was to fine me. They became more arrogant and this time they accused me of having used my friend's mobile phone.

At this point almost in tears I asked this student whether she possessed a mobile phone or not. While she was searching in her bag to take out her mobile, one of the wardens gave me a description of the mobile he saw me using, and luckily it did not correspond to his description.

But the story did not end here! Sarcastically one warden told me that he should have issued a fine without stopping me and then I would have to face court and I would not have had prove that I had forgotten my mobiile phone at home.

They continued to provoke me by telling me that had I had a mobile with me they would definitely have fined me. They closed the argument by saying that I should be grateful to them that they let me go without being fined.

I am bringing this matter to public attention as I feel that these wardens and their likes are constantly intimidating and bullying ordinary citizens on their normal business unduly and without a just cause and make us citizens feel insecure not from criminals but from officials. In my opinion these two wardens (I have their number) fabricated a story which never existed and to add insult to injury used arrogance to prove their point. They tried to frame me for an offence they planned together.

Are we living in a time when one is afraid to carry a mobile phone in a car?

Another reason why I decided to write is that I have already experienced arrogance from wardens and I have been already fined innocently once, but as I was alone and had no evidence I had no option but to pay the fine.

I feel that some wardens - not all - are using their power to bully and provoke us ordinary citizens. Is this the reason why lately we are hearing of violence against wardens? I do not approve of violence at all, but when people are irritated by the behaviour of some wardens who abuse their power as in my case what can one expect?

I am sure that when setting up the traffic warden system Government's intention was not to terrorise people but to regulate traffic properly. I only wish that action is taken regarding this incident and ensure that wardens do their job correctly.