THE EDITOR, Sir:
IN THE interest of justice and fair play will the authorities please use a small portion of the fees extracted to advise law-abiding motorists of No Parking areas?
On Wednesday, March 20, I parked my motor car on the left hand side of Lady Musgrave Road going up from the traffic light at the Old Hope Road intersection, taking care to observe whether there was any indication that parking was disallowed. From the spot I walked across to the Cancer Society's office to confirm the street number of a place I was hastening to visit and returned after the lapse of at the most six minutes to find that the vehicle was missing.
But for the presence of two ladies who were on the premises, I would have concluded that the car had been stolen. However, they were able to inform me that the police had just towed it up the road.
Very shortly after, I clapped in vain to attract the attention of the 'captors' as they dashed past me on their way down.
In the line of traffic waiting for the green light was a marked police vehicle, and on questioning the officer-driver I was told that Lyndhurst Road was the location for retrieval of impounded vehicles.
Astonishment and anger certainly were in order when I was told at Lyndhurst Road that Church Street, below the Water Commission office was the place to go. This announcement was complemented with the comment that the public should have been made aware of this.
My frustration did not end here. There was the displeasure associated with walking from the Parade to Church Street searching for a place that is without a sign to indicate its existence. Furthermore, there was the stunning revelation that I would have had to pay $3,000 which as a Government pensioner receiving a pittance less than three-quarters of the 'entitlement' of one of the aggrieved 'street persons,' I could not have budgeted for.
Besides, not having all that cash on hand, there was the additional stress of having to walk from Church Street to the bank at Barry Street (thanks to technology for online banking that saved me from the storage fee that might have accrued if I had to go through the regular banking process, namely, travelling from Downtown Kingston to Harbour View).
Since collecting my car, I have made myself drive on Lady Musgrave Road and have looked for the notice or any other restricting sign, e.g. fire hydrant, but I have seen none. I would therefore appreciate being enlightened regarding the towing away of my car for a parking offence.
In the absence of a suitable or should I say plausible explanation, I don't think I should be blamed for believing that No Parking signs are absent because the sole objective is to fleece unsuspecting motorists in a bid to replenish the coffers and satisfy preferred owners of wrecker services.
I am, etc.,
SERETA HARRIS
49 Nautilus Avenue
Kingston 17
