Cabbies: Unfair to fine us for illegal parking
by Nigel EdgarJuly 26, 2010, Monday
KUCHING: Cabbies at ‘Pasar Minggu Satok’ are complaining that it is unfair for the Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) to penalise them for illegal roadside parking as there are only two parking spaces to cater for them in the area.
NO WHERE TO GO: Vehicles parked illegally are causing unnecessary congestion.
DBKU has been issuing compounds of RM20 to vehicles parked illegally by the roadside, including public transport vehicles like taxis, as the problem is getting out of hand.
The council’s enforcers yesterday conducted a routine weekend sweep together with the media at Satok. Even the taxis waiting for passengers were not left out.
“This is not fair to us. Not only the council, the police and the Road Transport Department (JPJ) also issue summonses to us if we park ‘illegally’,” one of the taxi drivers complained to reporters yesterday.
The taxi driver said they, through the Kuching Taxi Association, had applied to the council for more taxi parking spaces since two years ago, but till now they had yet to see any action.
According to DBKU’s public relations officer Norhayati Bidin, parking indiscriminately by the roadside would endanger the drivers themselves and other road users.
“It would not only cause traffic congestion but also pose danger to the ones parking and also other road users,” she stressed.
Norhayati revealed that the issue of illegal parking was getting worse in areas like ‘Pasar Minggu Satok’, Kubah Ria, Choice Supermall, Jalan Kulas, Electra House and Open Air Market area and Gambier Street.
Many efforts have been initiated by DBKU to resolve this issue like road awareness campaign through local papers and radio stations as well as regular traffic control at hot spots, but the last resort would be to issue compound to those ignoring the rules, she said.
The issuance of RM20 compound for illegal parking is under the Road Transport (Provision of Parking Places) (City of Kuching North) Order, 2005 Article 3(4).
In 2009, a total of 13,365 compounds have been issued. In 2010 a total of 6,094 compounds have been issued as of yesterday.
Satok area is the most congested area within DBKU jurisdiction.
According to Norhayati, in Pasar Minggu Satok area alone DBKU issued 2,377 compounds in 2009 and about 886 this year up to May.
“To ease traffic congestion, DBKU has assigned its traffic wardens at Pasar Minggu Satok starting at 8am every Saturday and Sunday to monitor and control the situation,” she added.
However, road users still continue to ignore the warnings and park illegally at the roadside. Because of that, DBKU has proposed to set up a roadside barrier to prevent illegal roadside parking.
Apart from preventing illegal roadside parking, the barrier would also help reduce snatch-theft because the barrier separated the pavement from the main road.
Jay walking would also be reduced and it will encourage people to cross the road with the overhead bridge.
ILLEGAL PARKING: A DBKU enforcer issuing a compound to a vehicle parked illegally. Even the taxis were not spared.
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