This is the moment a female police officer parked her van on double yellow lines – while she went SHOPPING.
The cop stopped illegally in the middle of the afternoon despite being yards from a customer car park with dozens of empty spaces.
The brunette driver – wearing full uniform – then strolled into the supermarket to buy groceries with another female WPC.
She bought a tin of sweetcorn and tuna while the other picked up a packet of mints from the Co-op supermarket in West Bridgford, Notts.
Outraged shopper Richard Smith, 28, watched the cops park illegally then later saw them picking up their groceries.
The builder, who photographed the incident on his phone, said: ‘When they parked on double yellow lines I couldn’t believe it.
‘If there was an emergency then fair enough. But ten minutes later I saw them breezing through Co-op looking at the groceries.
‘They were laughing and joking with other customers and they were definitely not in a rush.
‘Every other driver has to watch their backs for parking wardens and would never dream of parking on double yellows – especially when the car park was half empty.
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‘It’s outrageous. These two either think they’re above the law, or they don’t know the rules of the road.
‘It’s one rule for them and another for the rest of us.
‘I’ve been hit with fines before for stopping on double yellows, so they should be too.
‘They’re lucky that there aren’t cameras there automatically fining cars that stop on double yellows.’
Richard, who parked in the correct car park, said he saw the officers chatting in the vehicle for several minutes on his way to the post-office 50 metres away on Tuesday April 8.
Around ten minutes later he returned and saw the empty van. He took several pictures then popped to the adjacent supermarket for a lottery ticket.
He said he saw the two cops walking through the grocery aisle, chatting to customers, and looking at the magazines.
Richard then took pictures of them as they paid for their items at the checkout.
The pair returned to their vehicle a few minutes later with their shopping and drove away.
Cops are only allowed to stop on double yellows if they are dealing with a motorist or attending an emergency.
But the Highway Code states that traffic laws apply to everyone – including police cars.
The cost of a PCN for stopping on double yellow lines is #70 or reduced to #35 if paid within two weeks.
A Nottinghamshire Police spokesman said: “A police vehicle, being used by the local Safer Neighbourhood Team, was legitimately parked on double yellow lines while two Police Community Support Officers made enquiries in relation to a missing person.
“The vehicle was not causing any obstruction, however, after completing their enquiries the officers briefly attended a nearby shop to purchase some items before returning to the van.
“This was a momentary lapse of judgement for which the officers have received advice.”
