City fines John Kerry for not shoveling snow

The city of Boston fined U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry $50 on Thursday for not shoveling the snow that had been left on his porch following a blizzard that hit the town, the Boston Globe has reported.

Kerry, who was making his way to Boston after an overseas trip, will promptly pay the fine, the diplomat’s spokesman Glen Johnson said.

“Diplomats - they’re just like us,’’ Johnson said adding that Kerry had been out of town when the blizzard hit.

“Secretary Kerry was working overseas while the blizzard packed a wallop back home.”

Pictures posted online showed a yellow hazard tape that was put around the slippery area of the sidewalk to warn pedestrians, the Globe reported.

According to Johnson, the firm that usually removes the snow mistook the tape for police tape and thought that part of the pavement was off limits.

As the situation cleared up, the firm cleared the sidewalk and by 5:45 pm the snow had been cleared from the area.

“The snow has all been shoveled now, the secretary will gladly pay the ticket, and let’s hope this is the last blizzard of the year,’’ the spokesman added.