The man was arrested yesterday, after he parked his truck across the middle of the city's main street.
The 44-year old man's frustration at being given a parking ticket after he parked on the footpath when there were no other spare spaces - and a second when he double-parked - resulted in about 10 commuter buses and more than a dozen cars gridlocked outside the Meridian mall for a short time from about 8.25am.
Against a background of protest over the city's new parking regime, he found a sympathetic audience of passers-by who applauded his actions as he was led away by police.
Police, however, were less congenial, and Acting Senior Sergeant Trevor Thomson said the man had been charged with careless use of a vehicle, obstructing police in the course of their duty and refusing to give personal details.
Dunedin City Council development services manager Kevin Thompson said the man was in charge of one of two vehicles parked on the footpath outside the mall.
As the parking officer was writing a $40 ticket for both, one drove off, "leaving our friend".
The man asked where he was supposed to park when there were no parks, and was told to use the Meridian loading dock, or drive around the block until a park became available.
He was told the fine for double-parking was $60 and despite a loading zone becoming available, the driver double-parked and was issued with a ticket.
"Then he parked in the middle of the road. From then on, it was a police matter," Mr Thompson said.
When the Otago Daily Times arrived on the scene, police were asking the driver to move, but he carried on unloading and was arrested.
Police moved his vehicle.
The man, who declined to talk to the ODT, will appear in court next Tuesday.
The man's boss, Brendon McPhee, general manager of food service distributor Bidvest Foodservice, did not condone his employee's actions, but said parking was difficult in the city, and the man had a full pallet of goods to deliver.
"He's got to park somewhere."
The man was "a bloody good driver", and his action was a personal protest.
Asked if drivers were getting many tickets, he said they did from time to time, although officers recently had been "more relaxed".
The man would not be censured by the company.
Brumby's bakery staff member Pat Fisher said parking in Dunedin had become particularly bad since the parking changes were made.
"It's shocking that he had to be arrested. He's a super guy and just trying to do his job," she said.
