Magistrate Edward King yesterday defied a traffic warden's order to move his parked car.

Voicing his aggravation over the lack of allocated parking spaces for officials at Magistrates' Court on Parliament Street, he said: "I'm not going to move it, let them ticket it.

"I will come and be tried in these courts if I have to,'' he added. "People should know what is going on.'' The courtroom rumpus began when a traffic warden interrupted Mr. King, as he was trying a case, to warn him to move his car. If he did not move his vehicle the traffic warden said he would receive a ticket.

Mr. King refused to move his car declaring that he had to "take a stand''.

"I've been working as a magistrate for Government for four years and I don't have an allocated parking space yet,'' he explained. "I have to park on the street like anyone who comes to town to shop.'' Mr. King explained that the other magistrates were also without parking spaces.

Works and Engineering administration manager Lorin Smith told the Royal Gazette that all of Government's parking spaces in the area were taken.

"Government maintains a number of parking spaces at Supreme Court, Magistrates' Court and Global House,'' Mr. Smith said. "There is a waiting list of about 30-odd people anxious to get spaces.'' Mr. King refused to tell The Royal Gazette whether he had received the ticket, but he disclosed he had received some tickets earlier this week.