Delivery driver fined for a simple mistake while dropping off a package – before kind-hearted locals make a generous offer
- Driver angry about fine for doing his job
- Local residents have offered to pay the fine for him
A delivery driver lashed out after leaving his van for two minutes to drop off a package before returning to find a huge fine on his windshield.
Umair Khan was fined $283 while making an order from Mosman, on Sydney’s north coast, on Friday and parked his van in a driveway.
Khan took to Facebook to express his frustration at the “rude” and “overzealous” council worker with hundreds of kind-hearted local residents offering to pay his fine.
A frustrated delivery driver (pictured next to his van) who works in one of Australia’s wealthiest suburbs has expressed frustration at the costly hassle of delivering parcels there
Umair Khan has taken to the Mosman Living Facebook page, which chronicles life in the Sydney suburb of the same name, to complain about a $283 fine (pictured)
Many residents know Mr Khan personally as he has been active in the area for eight years, first in Neutral Bay next door and since 2017 in Mosman.
His complaint stems from a recent delivery, which he says took only two minutes, but ended up costing him far more than it was worth.
Mr Khan wrote that he loves delivering parcels in what he called ‘the beautiful suburb’ and is working hard to get everything right.
He said he always tries his best to leave a card as little as possible, which would mean people would have to go to the post office themselves to pick up the package.
“But guess what,” he wrote, “this is what we get fined $283 for delivering one package in less than 2 minutes.”
He said it’s annoying when he gets fined just for doing his job. “I just got frustrated when I saw this and wanted to say that not every postman is the same.
“Some work really hard and care about customers and their packages. Some also feel happy when they see a happy face of customers after they have received a package.’
Mr Khan also revealed the details of the specific incident that led to him being fined such a large amount.
“I was delivering to the harbor nursing home and stopped for 1 minute and in fact I was there when the council woman clicked the picture as you can see me too but she was just so rude and replied to go to COURT.”
The driver admitted that he was technically breaking a traffic law, but he just wanted the package delivered.
“I know I’m wrong under traffic rule 198, but believe me, if I took that package to the post office I’d get a lengthy complaint from the nursing home,” he wrote.
His plea for understanding and a little leniency to someone just trying to do his job sparked a huge outpouring of support on the social media site.
One supporter said Mr Khan ‘is a legend and used to deliver my packages with care to my home in Mosman’.
The woman added that he even knew where she worked nearby and “would drop by my work if I wasn’t home.”
The driver’s impassioned report about a ‘rude’ and ‘overzealous’ council worker struck a chord with locals, who left hundreds of comments to support him. His van is in the picture
Another wrote that what happened to the delivery driver is: ‘Another example of Australia’s grossly overzealous policing.
‘It’s good that you are committed to doing your service task well. Shame on the Australian government.’
The poster said after his recent travels in Europe, where there is “very little enforcement of speed limits (and) parking,” he thinks Australia is “Just an over-compliant, over-regulated, blame others, nanny state.”
Some supporters offered to help Mr Khan pay his fine, with one posting $10 each and we can cover it. Who is in?’
Another said they were “happy to join in too.” You take pride in your work and are always friendly when I see you at Mosman. Please let us help.’
With friends and supporters flocking to support him, Mr Khan will no doubt continue to do his best job on Sydney’s leafy north coast.
And Mosman Council could find it has far more complaints than usual in the coming days and weeks.