Council promises 9-year-old girl it won't give Santa Claus a parking ticket when he visits her house

Parking restrictions: Santa has been let off parking fines in north west London
REUTERS
Chloe Chaplain24 December 2016

An adorable nine-year-old girl contacted council bosses because she was so worried that Santa would be hit with a parking fine when he stopped to deliver her presents.

The concerned letter was sent into Barnet Council by the girl’s mum, who said her daughter was fretting about Santa getting a ticket when he parks his sleigh outside their East Finchley home.

She said she was writing on behalf of her daughter who had been led to believe, by her father, that Santa would be faced with a huge fine on his return to the North Pole.

And the team in the Council’s Freedom of Information office sent back a hilarious response reassuring that Santa would not be penalised.

The girl’s "frantic" mother had written: “I'm asking for my nine-year-old. We live in East Finchley CPZ. She is worried that Santa will get a parking ticket on Christmas Eve.

Council letter: The girl's mum wrote on her behalf to council bosses
Barnet Council

“I've told her he won't but her dad has wound her up.”

And the Council responded: “The council is very happy to confirm that Santa will definitely not get any PCNs from the council.”

The letter goes on to explain the reasoning for Santa being excluded from parking restrictions.

“His sleigh isn't a motor vehicle and so cannot receive a ticket,” it says.

“The term 'motor vehicle' is defined in section 185(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and section 136(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 as ‘a mechanically propelled vehicle, intended or adapted for use on roads.

Parking fines: The council sent a response back saying that the sleigh does not count as a 'motor vehicle'
Barnet Council

“Santa's sleigh isn't powered mechanically but by magical flying reindeer.

“Santa has to warp the space time continuum to be able to deliver all those presents in such a short space of time so the sleigh would not be stationary for long enough for any ticket to be issued anyway.”

After reassuring the north west London family that Santa would not have his New Year ruined by a hefty pay-out, the ever-helpful council officers offered some practical advice.

“The council would recommend that you do not leave sherry, whisky or other alcoholic drinks for Santa with mince pies on Christmas Eve,” they wrote.

“Drinking and flying at supersonic speeds is not advisable.

“We would suggest milk, water or fruit juice instead.”

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