Whose Fault Is It — Mine or the Valet’s?
By Nupur Sinha
I am a law-abiding homemaker — and so is my better half. After much argument and convincing that I would drive safely and follow every traffic norm, I was finally allowed to take the wheel.
But a recent incident has made me deeply apprehensive about the much-hyped valet parking facilities offered by hotels and restaurants.
Last Saturday evening, I was enjoying my kitty party with friends at the Station Road’s Capitol Residency when I received a call from my husband. His voice was a mix of anger, worry, and disbelief. He had just received an SMS about a traffic challan for wrong parking — along with a photo of my car, half on the road and half over the thick white line.
The challan had been issued at 5 p.m., and since it was a first offence, the fine was only ₹150.My husband sounded irritated, so I tried to calm him down. I explained that I had reached the hotel around 3 p.m. and handed my car keys to the hotel’s valet driver.
The hotel is a reputed one in Ranchi — a preferred venue for functions and ceremonies — so I had no reason to doubt their service. Still, when my husband remained unconvinced, I went to the reception to enquire.
What unfolded was an eye-opener. The valet driver had indeed parked my car incorrectly. The hotel’s security guard confirmed that a mobile traffic van had taken pictures earlier. My spotless record now had a blemish — a traffic violation penalty!
The manager assured me not to worry, saying the hotel would pay the fine. I wanted to argue, but restrained myself, knowing it would lead nowhere.
What is dotted cannot be blotted.I returned home, but the thought kept troubling me. The first offence carries a ₹150 fine, but the second ₹500 — and that, God forbid, would actually be my first! Repeated violations could even lead to cancellation of my driving license or impounding of my car.
So, am I responsible? If my license gets cancelled or my car impounded, I would have lost my clean record because of someone else’s mistake.
(Nupur Sinha is a former school teacher and now a proud homemaker)
