Senator Kim Wilson ended the controversy over her parking ticket by paying the $50 at Magistrates’ Court yesterday.As previously reported, the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry got the ticket on her government car on Wednesday.In a voicemail message responding to inquiries by this newspaper that day, Sen Wilson indicated she expected the ticket to be cancelled.She explained she’d spoken to the head parking warden as ministerial cars do not usually receive parking tickets and was told the fine would be “sorted out”.The news prompted condemnation from members of the public, who responded with comments that ministers should pay to park like everyone else.An informal poll on our website www.royalgazette.com showed 90 percent of the 749 readers who voted felt that way.City of Hamilton Secretary Ed Benevides said while traffic wardens may have an informal policy of not ticketing ministerial cars, ministers are not exempt from the usual parking rules.He said traffic wardens are governed by the police, not the Corporation, but the Corporation is aware members of the public feel aggrieved when they see GP-plated cars escaping without tickets and plans to hold talks with officials.Yesterday morning, Sen Wilson sent an e-mail saying: “I did attend at the Magistrates’ Court, and paid the fine imposed.”She also said: “I have to admit that on reflection, I regret my comment left on [the] voice mail. While I stated what I believed was the accurate position as a custom, I could have tempered both my comments and tone.”Sen Wilson explained she was in “somewhat of a rush” at the time to respond to inquiries about the ticket.However, she added: “I only wish some of my comments on issues of more importance which affect the day to day lives of our citizens, such as how to help Bermudians who are out of work find jobs and other substantive issues, engendered the same level of public interest.”Her decision to pay the ticket prompted largely positive responses from members of the public.Robert Butterfield commented on The Royal Gazette Facebook page: “I am so so proud of Senator Wilson. She has great character.”He explained he took that view: “Because she could have kept to her initial position. And nobody would have forced her to pay it.”Suzi Outerbridge wrote: “Such a great example.”However, another Facebook user, James Longfellow responded with: “Why would you be proud of her? Her first inclination was to use her position of power to get it cancelled.“The only reason she changed her mind and decided to pay it is because she was afraid [of] all the controversy. I would say that political ambition rather than ‘great character’ had more to do with her decision.”Sharon Raynor remarked: “I’m happy she ended it all, but I won’t use the word proud. I would have been proud if she had gone ahead and paid the fine before the press got the story.”Katherine Michelmore, deputy leader of the Bermuda Democratic Alliance, criticised Sen Wilson over the issue on Thursday, saying: “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.”She welcomed news yesterday that the fine had been paid, saying: “Minister Wilson has done the appropriate thing by paying her ticket and can move on to more important business, but there are still unanswered questions.“Is it police policy that Ministerial cars are not ticketed? If so will the Government consider recommending an amendment to this policy to ensure more equitable treatment?“Is the Government prepared to advise Ministers to ‘go green’ and minimise car usage where possible?”The Royal Gazette has made repeated inquiries to the Bermuda Police Service since Wednesday as to whether traffic wardens have been instructed not to ticket ministerial vehicles.A spokesman said yesterday: “Your request has been passed to the relevant persons and we await a response from them.”