People using Hamilton bus station as a thoroughfare may have infuriated bus drivers and led to high-profile disruption — but that didn't stop GP1 taking an illegal break in the depot last Friday afternoon.

An eagle-eyed Royal Gazette reader took this photograph after spotting Premier Dr. Ewart Brown's official car in a Washington Street trucks' loading zone at 2.25 p.m.

It comes after bus drivers went on work-to-rule — causing chaos for commuters — to protest against safety hazards created by private vehicles cutting through the terminal.

And as anger from bus drivers reached a peak a few weeks ago, Corporation of Hamilton boss Ed Benevides issued a reminder that the loading zone is for loading and unloading only.

After being contacted by this newspaper on Friday, the Premier's Press Secretary Glenn Jones issued a statement saying the Premier was not in the BMW when the photograph was taken.

He blamed the driver, whom he said was in the car and belonged to Bermuda Regiment, which he pointed out "falls under the auspices of a different office holder". However, eyewitnesses have told The Royal Gazette they saw Dr. Brown get out of the car and go into City Cafe while his driver waited.

Mr. Jones did not reply when asked whether the reason the Premier (or Acting Premier) wasn't in the car was that he had popped into one of the Washington Street properties while the driver waited in the loading zone.

Meanwhile the Regiment acknowledged it does employ GP1's drivers — but said the driver was responsible for his own actions.

The passer-by who took the photograph told this newspaper: "Walking to get my lunch, I happened to notice GP1 parked in a loading zone on Washington Street.

"Now I do walk on the road regularly and I have noticed a Police officer giving out tickets to any car that decides to drive down that street. Is GP1 exempt from this? I feel as though if people are going to be ticketed for driving through Washington Street or parking, everyone should fall under the same rules, including Government-owned vehicles. Too bad a Police officer wasn't there, I would have loved to have seen what the outcome would have been."

Mr. Jones said in his statement: "The Premier was not in the car at the time of this photo, but presumably the driver was. "However, the position of GP1 driver is not a Government position, it is a Bermuda Regiment position which, as you know, falls under the auspices of a different office holder. Perhaps you can inquire there. "As much as I would like to tell you how I really feel about this story the aforementioned facts make any further comment on my part inappropriate."

He did not respond when asked whether GP1 is subject to the same rules of the road as everyone else. Bermuda Police Service also did not reply to that same question.

Sergeant Major Marilyn Steede of Bermuda Regiment said: "I confirm that the diplomatic driver responsible for GP1 is indeed employed by the Bermuda Regiment.

"However, it would deem that your query warrants response from the traffic department within the Bermuda Police Service. I define your query to be one of a perceived contravention of the traffic code: possible 'illegal parking'. Thus, it would stand to reason that the driver is clearly responsible for his actions with respect to the traffic laws on Bermuda's roads, which in essence exempts his employer of any responsibility."

Asked for clarification on whose responsibility it was, a Police spokesman said: "As you can imagine it would not be prudent for the BPS to get involved in this situation as it falls outside of our remit. Our job is enforcement of the law and we cannot and will not be drawn into giving our opinion as to who should get the ticket in this case."

And GP1 wasn't the only vehicle in Government's fleet to cause frustration last week.

One reader wrote to us about an incident at 10 a.m. last Thursday as he made his way into town: "I was cut off by a blue Toyota Camry V6 Sedan, licence GP4. The driver, who was on his cellphone, suddenly decided to turn right without signalling. I have no idea who the driver was except he was well dressed and using his cell phone — perhaps he is someone responsible for leading some aspect of our community.

"Fortunately, I just managed to avoid hitting the car."