Parking principles need fresh look

WHY is it that the normally law-abiding Joe Public is becoming increasingly at risk of being "criminalised" by a welter of petty legislation and its interpretation by a legion of jobsworths who seem to take a sadistic satisfaction in enforcing such rules?
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Apr 2010, 19:38 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 00:59 BST

A prime example of this was highlighted in last week's Herald story which revealed that it is a "fraudulent act" to pass on a valid, time-remaining, on-street parking ticket to other people.

The conditions state a ticket must not be used for a different vehicle to the one for which it is purchased.

Read the original parking ticket story here.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Herald website has been inundated with angry reactions from people who see this as yet another officious stick with which to beat motorists in the on-going saga of Worthing's contentious car parking scenario.

Many readers will remember with affection the days, up to about 15 years ago, when Worthing's on-street parking was operated by coin-operated meters.

Drivers were quick to spot a vacant kerbside space with unexpired time left on the meter, and they nipped in to take advantage of the "free" parking.

There was no talk of fraud, intentional or otherwise, and this practice did not cause any more congestion than if the original parker had used all of their allotted time.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The result of this practice was no different to the effect of today's kindly motorists passing on their unexpired time to someone else wanting to park.

The authorities really must take a fresh look at the principles on which LAPE (the Local Authority Parking Enforcement scheme) was introduced into Worthing in September, 2007.

The public was then told the scheme was to help the town's economy by "making sure that on-street parking designed for short shopping trips is not abused".

Well, the business of local traders is not being abused by potential customers snapping up a short period of parking time. Quite the opposite.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And as for the original LAPE statement that the scheme is not designed to make money, the victimised motorist will find that hard to believe in this instance.

-------------------------------------

Click here for more Herald says.

Where are you? Add your pin to the Herald's international readers' map by clicking here.

Email the Herald: [email protected]

Want to read this page in French, German, Spanish, Polish, Portuguese, Urdu or 48 other languages? click here for Google translate.

Related topics:DriversGoogle