A Minister's expectation that her parking ticket will be cancelled prompted a flurry of condemnation from members of the public.As The Royal Gazette reported yesterday, Senator Kim Wilson got the ticket while parked outside the Anglican Cathedral in Hamilton on Wednesday.However, she said, the head traffic warden told her the penalty would be cancelled because ministerial vehicles with GP plates are exempt from fines.Sen Wilson's car was parked in front of the Church Street cathedral again yesterday apparently without getting a fine.Corporation of Hamilton Secretary Ed Benevides said on Wednesday that Ministers are not exempt from the usual parking regulations.He acknowledged that members of the public feel “aggrieved” when they see GP cars parked illegally without being ticketed.However, he could not rule out that traffic wardens have been instructed by police bosses not to dole out tickets to Government figures.Responding to yesterday's story, a number of readers spoke out. In a remark posted on our website, www.theroyalgazette. com, Kia Jones wrote: “Who does Kim Wilson think she is?“All Ministers should pay [for] their parking tickets and what ever offence they have not obeyed [speeding, not stopping at signs, etc.]. If she needs to park longer, she needs to do what we all as the public do, move within the hour, or go pay at a park and display zone.”Marc-Anthony Thomas said: “Kim Wilson needs to pay for breaking the law, this current Government is such a joke.”Meanwhile, more comments were posted on our Facebook page in response to the question of whether this was fair.Among them was a post from Margaret J Smith who said: “No way. They have free parking available at the Sessions House if they are MPs and the Cabinet building if they are senators. Both are central locations too.”Mary McCoig wrote: “Lead by example. If you break the rules you should be expected to pay the consequences, regardless of your job.”While Linda Terra remarked: “MPs are not above the law, they should be the first ones setting the example.”United Bermuda Party Senator Michael Dunkley chipped in with a comment on his own Facebook page, saying: “Minister Wilson thinks that Ministers are exempt from parking tickets.“Why? All MPs have a parking spot on the grounds of the House of Assembly so there is no need to use much-needed parking on the streets of Hamilton.”Katherine Michelmore, deputy leader of the Bermuda Democratic Alliance said: “Citizens do not react well to the insinuation that their elected officials are exempt from the rules that they decree for the rest of society.“The public reaction also speaks to the disconnect developing between Government and the people.“In days gone by, you were likely to bump into your representative whilst collecting luggage from the airport carousel, whereas now elected officials are much less immediately accessible.“It is my understanding that MPs are entitled to free parking at the House of Assembly. This is in walking distance to most places in Hamilton.“Ministers should set an example by minimising car usage wherever possible, and by paying their way like the rest of us when it comes to traffic infringements. The issue may seem petty, however it speaks to leadership and respect for the law and the public.”Dr Michelmore suggested it might be sensible for the Corporation of Hamilton to consider a special class of parking permit for ministerial cars where they could pay a higher fee for their permits in exchange for exemption from parking tickets.An informal poll on our website asking whether Ministers should be exempt from paying parking tickets showed 89 saying no, nine percent saying yes and two percent unsure out of a total 409 voters.Both Sen Wilson and a Police spokesman failed to respond to repeated requests for comment and confirmation as to whether the ticket has in fact been cancelled.