Few days back (11.04.2018), I had a run-in with our Men in Blue – next to the Thai Pavilion below Namgay Heritage Hotel. The less than cordial tête-à-tête that followed by the way side was rather peculiar, and revealing at the same time.
MiB: “Wai Lobey, aanina parking betha mecho la” (Sir, you cannot park here).
Me: “Who says so?”
MiB: “I say so.”
Me: “And who are you?”
MiB: “I am the Traffic Police – can’t you read here?” --- gesticulating across his chest.
Me: “Just because you are a traffic police, you can say any old thing?”
MiB: I am not saying any old thing --- I am saying you cannot park here.
Me: “Where does it say this is a NO PARKING zone? Where is the sign board … where is the
MiB: “Wai Lobey, aanina parking betha mecho la” (Sir, you cannot park here).
Me: “Who says so?”
MiB: “I say so.”
Me: “And who are you?”
MiB: “I am the Traffic Police – can’t you read here?” --- gesticulating across his chest.
Me: “Just because you are a traffic police, you can say any old thing?”
MiB: I am not saying any old thing --- I am saying you cannot park here.
Me: “Where does it say this is a NO PARKING zone? Where is the sign board … where is the
color coded line that will tell me that parking is not allowed in this place.”
MiB: “It is not my job to put up NO PARKING signs, or draw color coded lines to designate an
MiB: “It is not my job to put up NO PARKING signs, or draw color coded lines to designate an
area as NO PARKING zone – it is the City Corporation’s. So please go yell at them.”
Me: “If the City Corporation has not put up the sign or drawn a line to show that a place is a
Me: “If the City Corporation has not put up the sign or drawn a line to show that a place is a
No Parking Zone, why do you volunteer to designate the area as a No Parking area?.
Obviously the City Corporation does not consider this a No Parking area”
MiB: “Because this is a 2-ways traffic road.” Excuse me?????
Me: “I will not recognize this as a No Parking Zone if there is no sign that says as such.”
MiB: “Oh really? Then show me where is the White Box that tells you that you can park here?”
Me: “Are you telling me that we can park only in areas where there are white boxes drawn?”
MiB: “Anyway, traffic management is my responsibility and duty. So I am telling you,
MiB: “Because this is a 2-ways traffic road.” Excuse me?????
Me: “I will not recognize this as a No Parking Zone if there is no sign that says as such.”
MiB: “Oh really? Then show me where is the White Box that tells you that you can park here?”
Me: “Are you telling me that we can park only in areas where there are white boxes drawn?”
MiB: “Anyway, traffic management is my responsibility and duty. So I am telling you,
you cannot park here.”
Me: “Wai police – you are a law enforcer – your responsibility is to enforce a law that is in
Me: “Wai police – you are a law enforcer – your responsibility is to enforce a law that is in
place – you have no authority to legislate new laws at your whim and fancy. The fact that
there is no law – sign board or white line on the road – means there is no law so you
cannot tell me what you are telling me.”
The back and forth argument went on for over half an hour, to no avail. But the fact that the MiB did not ask me to surrender my documents or driving license, is proof that the bugger knew he was not entirely within his rights, in giving me a hard time.
At times the arguments verged on the ridiculous. But I understand --- our MiB has to deal with some real nut cases – day in, day out. Their work is certainly not easy and they have all my sympathies. But I fear that I have not seen the last of this incident – it is bound to come up again and again, until the bakers are taught to bake palatable cakes.
The back and forth argument went on for over half an hour, to no avail. But the fact that the MiB did not ask me to surrender my documents or driving license, is proof that the bugger knew he was not entirely within his rights, in giving me a hard time.
At times the arguments verged on the ridiculous. But I understand --- our MiB has to deal with some real nut cases – day in, day out. Their work is certainly not easy and they have all my sympathies. But I fear that I have not seen the last of this incident – it is bound to come up again and again, until the bakers are taught to bake palatable cakes.
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