But the Dunedin City Council says buses cannot stop in the middle of the street, and it was entitled to issue the ticket.
Dunedin Passenger Transport managing director Kayne Baas said he complained to the council after one of his bus drivers was issued with a $60 ticket for parking a vehicle illegally in George St in April.
He said the driver was only waiting to pick up a passenger who was running along the street to catch the bus. His complaint with the council over the ticket had fallen on deaf ears, and council was not willing to compromise, he said.
In Christchurch, buses could stop in the middle of some roads and pick up passengers, if needed, he said. He felt his company was being targeted, especially after a company vehicle and two of his drivers' vehicles were given tickets for parking on footpaths in Jutland St last Friday.
Council parking services team leader Daphne Griffen said although she could not recall the latest incident, there had been previous instances when tickets had been issued for buses stopping in streets. Buses stopped in the middle of a street were not parked legally, and should not be loading passengers from the middle of the street as it was unsafe.
She was aware of complaints about cars parking on bus stops and parking wardens issued tickets for cars parking in these areas.
