The 2 meters away

My name is Irfan. Malaysian and i made a stupid mistake. A mistake that i wish i could turn back the time and just drove my car 2 meter forward. Yes just 2 meter. Because this 2 meter could save me €389.

This happened when i was in Europe for a special project that was assigned to me. I was asked to work in our HQ located in Germany near to the border of Netherlands. This was not the first time I’ve been to Europe.

I have a friend staying somewhere in Enschede, Netherlands which was only 40 minutes drive from my place in Germany. I got a rental car provided by my company. So one day, during weekends, i decided to go and met her and her family in Enschede. She stays in an apartment near the city. So the parking was limited but they provide a parking pass for the visitors where you are allowed to park at the road near the apartment. This parking at the side road usually requires you to pay but since i have the pass I don’t have to.

Before i get to the story how I cried my lungs out, let me remind you about the driving in my country, Malaysia. We drive at the left side of the road or as westerners usually said, the wrong side of the roads. So driving in Europe makes me a bit nervous.

So, back to the story I visited my friend in Enschede. After i got my parking pass from her, i drove to the street across her apartment and parked the car at the first spot which the row was completely empty. I got out from the car, locked and simply walked to the apartment.

After spending like couple of hours, i decided to leave. So she walked me to car, so that she can get back her parking pass. Once we reached to my car, boommm! There was a parking ticket. And we were confused. We simply looked out for the mistakes, but still could not find anything like maybe I didn’t parked properly or what. Until she took the ticket and read it. It was a disabled parking.

I swear on my mother’s name, I didn’t even realized that it was the disabled parking. There’s no sign on the floor, only a tall pole with “P” and wheelchair sign that is smaller than the parking mark. Plus, the sign was not facing the direction of the road. Which as you can see in the picture below. I cried my lungs out when i saw the fines cost. It is €389.

If i knew it was a disbaled parking, i would have just drive 2 meter further in front, which was completely empty and not a disabled parking. Why would i be so shallow to take the risk for parking at the disabled parking if the parking in front of me was available. How i wish there was a cctv to record it so i could show to my company, that it was a careless mistakes that i never intended and hopefully they could bear the cost for me. Which they are not. Which is why, i am here. Asking for all the generous people who even borther to read my stories, of how disappointed i am to help me out with the payment of the fines.

I know, it was my mistakes for being careless, but I truly didn’t noticed the sign. I didn’t mean to blame the authority for the visibility of the sign, but i think i might not be the only person who have parked there. Whom which i think would never realized that it was a disabled parking. But i hope i am the only person, so no people will experience this.

Your kindness are really appreciated.