Recently it was reported that due to unpaid parking tickets, the vehicle belonging to the security detail protecting former President George Bush’s daughter Jenna Bush, was towed. Baltimore City has not confirmed (or denied) if the vehicle belongs to the Secret Service, although Adrienne Barnes with the Baltimore City Department of Transportation stated it’s a “protective matter of national security.”
Vehicles with three or more unpaid parking tickets are being booted or towed in the city; part of a newly launched campaign to collect unpaid tickets. Currently, there are approximately 80,000 unpaid citations issued by Baltimore City, which amount to $130 million in lost revenue, and the city is intent on collecting on these fines.
Barnes was able to confirm that the “agent in charge” of Jenna Bush’s protective detail is making arrangements for the vehicle to be released from the impound lot.
Nobody in protective service has a “get out of jail free” pass…not even the Secret Service! I’m guessing the “agent in charge” is sporting some bright yellow egg on his face over this snafu.
This story serves as a great lesson for two reasons:
First, it illustrates that just because an agent is protecting someone famous doesn’t mean the rules no longer apply. If the agent decided to park illegally, or the meter ran out, or whatever the circumstances might have been; there will be consequences. If I choose to park in No-Parking Zone because I feel it will be safer for my celebrity client to disembark the vehicle in that location–I KNOW that I’m doing something for which (if caught) there will be consequences. If I simply forgot to feed the meter, and the time runs out; I can expect a ticket. . . and I can assume it is my task to be sure the ticket is paid.
Secondly, somebody isn’t minding the paperwork–an often overlooked and necessary part of working on any detail. Surely, a ticket was left on the car. Then, a follow-up citation was sent. Somebody was responsible for paying for the ticket. Whoever was responsible for the maintenance, paperwork, parking, insurance and overall management of the vehicle wasn’t doing their job. Perhaps this was a case of “the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing.” Which of course brings into question the efficiency of the Secret Service Agency; and sheds an unfavorable light on a government run organization.
A situation like this can be very embarrassing, whether it involves a public organization or a private client; especially if the story is leaked to the press. It’s the kind of mistake that–depending on the employer–might even cost an EPS his job.
