|
|
Crackdown on bus-stop parking
Drivers who risk parking illegally on bus stops are more likely than ever to get caught — and face hefty penalties.
Illegal parking on Christchurch bus stops is generally worse in the evenings and is mostly in the central city, especially in Colombo Street,The Strip, and Rolleston Avenue.
It also occurs in other central-city streets.
Concerns raised
In response to concerns raised by bus companies, the City Council’s City Services Committee has approved a crackdown on this type of offending, which means the Parking Unit is working even longer hours to police illegal bus-stop parking.
The unit began a higher level of surveillance of bus stops in Colombo Street when the Bus Exchange opened and that has resulted in reduced offending but the incidence of illegal parking on bus stops is still too high. Bus-stop parking not only disrupts traffic flows but is also potentially hazardous for other road users and passengers, especially when buses are forced to double park to off-load and pick up passengers because they are unable to use stops because of illegally parked vehicles.
"In the interests of maintaining the efficiency of the public transport system and of road safety we need to keep the pressure on in order to discourage this type of offending," says the Parking Unit Manager, Maurice Smith.
He warns that the penalties can be hefty.
Offending drivers can be fined $40 for parking on a bus stop or $60 for inconsiderate parking.
Towage costs extra In addition, there is often an extra minimum $55 towage cost as offending vehicles are normally towed from bus stops.
Owners of vehicles "missing" from bus stops should contact the Police to find out if they have been towed away or perhaps stolen.
Police also hold information about the location of the towed-away vehicles.
|
