Dear Editor:
I was stopped at a red light on midday, Friday, Dec. 13 at the intersection of Eighth Avenue and Eighth Street.
My car was parallel to the Moody Park field, and as I waited for the light to change, I noticed a woman with her dog and a man in uniform. He was writing something as they conversed.
I concluded that he was giving her a ticket for letting her dog off leash. The only other beings on the field during this wet and soggy day were seagulls, and I don't think they particularly cared, but who am I to say?
Then I saw the white city animal control van, parked on Eighth Street, and my inkling proved correct: she was getting a ticket.
Only when I was returning from my errands via Eighth Avenue and approaching Eighth Street (bordering Moody Park) did I notice the signs indicating this area is a "bus zone" - and that prior to the actual bus zone (closer to Eighth Avenue) parking/stopping is prohibited.
The animal control fellow had parked his van (allegedly) illegally in order to give a citizen a ticket for her (alleged) bylaw infraction.
Is there one law for city workers and another law for citizens of New Westminster? I hope this woman who received a ticket sees this letter and challenges the ticket she received, as I don't think that a city worker should chastise, never mind write a ticket out for a bylaw infraction when s/he has (allegedly) committed a similar infraction.
Isn't this a prime example of what is termed "the fruit of a poisoned tree" in legal vernacular?
B. Kendall, New Westminster
