Observe traffic rules at all times
NO EXCUSES: Councillor warns drivers to toe the line even at night
GEORGE TOWN: WHEN the Penang Island Municipal Council's (MPPP) traffic and enforcement unit personnel clamp illegally parked cars at night or issue summonses to errant drivers, various excuses are given including "My car is not even obstructing the traffic".
MPPP councillor Teh Lai Heng said a number of errant motorists had expressed outrage against the council's traffic enforcement exercises after working hours, protesting about their clamped vehicles and parking summonses.
Even though they knew they had violated traffic regulations, they expected the enforcement officers to give them leeway, he said.
"They protested that their cars did not obstruct traffic even when we tried to reason with them that illegal parking was still against regulations regardless of the hours.
"The motorists complained that the council's action to clamp their cars or fine them for parking illegal at night was unacceptable.
"We should shed this negative culture that damages the reputation of Penang drivers."
Teh, who is a member of the council's infrastructure and traffic standing committee, was asked to comment on MPPP's measures to tackle illegal parking at night in the city.
In a recent check by Streets, many motorists were found illegally parking their vehicles by the roadside at night in locations like Jalan Burma, Jalan Penang, Upper Penang Road, Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, Jalan Pengkalan Kota, Lebuh Pasar in Little India, Jalan Mandalay, Lebuh Gereja, Lebuh Pantai and Lebuh Chulia.
The reason why illegal parking was rampant there had to do with the many hawker stalls, nasi kandar restaurants, coffee shops and banks situated along the streets.
For instance, Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling has no parking bays on either side, but motorists continued to park illegally as close as they can to a popular nasi kandar outlet located there.
On some two-way streets like Lebuh Chulia, motorists park illegally on both sides, causing congestion.
The people's reluctance to park in designated bays and walk a few more steps to their destination is why Penang has been having a tough time tackling these problems.
Teh said the MPPP's traffic and enforcement unit personnel patrolled the streets until 10pm daily to clamp and book errant motorists.
"The council, under its Car Park Order 1992, can issue RM30 fines to motorists for parking outside the MPPP parking bay.
"The council is also empowered to tow and clamp vehicles which cause road obstruction," he explained.
He advised the public to be considerate and follow traffic rules.
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