Healthcare Workers’ Fight Against Traffic Tickets Ends in Victory
Healthcare workers at the Nice University Hospital (CHU) have successfully overturned a barrage of traffic tickets issued to them in December last year, according to recent reports.
The Infamous Traffic Line
Over a three-day period from December 14th to 16th, approximately 30 tickets were handed out for crossing a white line at the hospital’s exit. Instead of turning right and navigating through heavy traffic, some hospital staff had adopted a shortcut for years: cutting across the median during peak hours, thereby violating the continuous line. While it saved time, the offense carried a hefty penalty of a 135 euro fine and three license points.
A Single Officer, 30 Tickets
The citations were issued by a single municipal police officer who monitored the area from the city’s urban supervision center, which has access to Nice’s extensive network of surveillance cameras.
Defending the actions, the city’s Director of Municipal Police, Jérôme Marcenac, stated that the violations were "particularly dangerous" and had been observed and reported by the neighborhood committee. He further announced that a study would be conducted to determine whether road modifications could be made to address the issue.
A Protest and a Victory
The Force Ouvrière (FO) union, representing CHU staff, quickly mobilized in response to the traffic tickets. They released a statement on Friday evening, announcing that they had "obtained the cancellation of the fines targeting hospital personnel at the exit of the CHU Pasteur 2 parking lot."
The victory was met with relief, especially for the two healthcare workers who had lost their licenses due to the citations. "I can’t tell you how relieved they are to know they will get their points back," said Michel Fuentes, Secretary General of FO.
A Questionable Agenda?
The FO also initiated an internal administrative investigation into the municipal police officer responsible for the excessive ticketing. The officer’s motives remain unclear, but sources speculate that personal issues may have played a role, as his wife works for the hospital’s emergency medical service (SMUR) and there had been recent tensions.
The Fight Continues
Despite the cancellation of the traffic tickets, no road modifications have yet been implemented. A meeting between the FO and city officials failed to produce any immediate solutions. As a result, hospital staff are urged to adhere to the traffic regulations for the time being.
The incident highlights the challenges faced by healthcare workers, who often work long and stressful hours. Their efforts to find ways to save time and navigate the city’s congested streets should not be met with excessive penalties, especially when their primary concern is providing essential patient care.
