IN MY July 10 Perspective column ``Hobart learnt well from its convict past'' I wrote how a wonderful holiday with the Redhead in Tassie was spoiled by parking police on the Hobart wharves.

Despite feeding a parking metre and putting the ticket on the dashboard in prominent view, I was booked with a raft of others on a technicality.

The tickets applied only to the dock itself, not outside a small railing where we parked in the street.

As outlined, one irate booked driver rang the city council and immediately got into a row with an official, who said: ``You shoulda read the sign, mate. Says permit, not ticket. Your fault.''

Our hero persisted, called the mass bookings ''grubby revenue-raising''.

He mentioned several tourists had been booked after doing the right thing, ending with the line:

``What sort of welcome to Hobart is this?''

The official hung up in his ear, saying permits are not tickets.

I mulled it over and decided I had to pay. But I asked the Redhead:

``Am I being petty dwelling on this?

``It gives me the screaming ab-dabs that these guys get away with this tactic.''

``No, I agree. It annoys me, too,'' Alita said.

Right! I sat down at the computer and composed a very reasonable letter that one of my best mates a Canberra bureaucrat who writes departmental briefing papers for the Federal Government would be proud to have penned.

I attached a tear-out of my Perspective and a cheque for the $50 fine and sent it to the general manager of the council.

I also cc'd the note and my column to the Mayor of Hobart, Tasmania's Tourist Minister and the Premier.

I felt better just to have gotten it off my chest.

I'd almost forgotten the incident when a letter arrived bearing the Hobart City Council crest.

Opening it with amusement, I found a note from the general manager, V.B. Armstrong, and my cheque.

I yelled excitedly to Alita: ``I've had a win. Look at this.''

Mr Armstrong began: ``As a courtesy to interstate visitors, Hobart City Council policy is that tourists may have their first infringement withdrawn.

``[Therefore], I am cancelling your infringement notice and returning your cheque for $50.''

Let's call my personal stand a small victory for motorists against money-grubbing parking policies.