FRIDAY, JULY 6, 1979
THE NEW AMENDMENTS ALSO AMPLIFY THE LEGAL POSITION OF MOTORISTS FACED WITH DEFECTIVE PARKING METERS.
+REGULATIONS NOW COVER CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH A COIN CANNOT BE INSERTED DUE TO THE METER BEING JAMMED, A POINT WHICH WAS NOT PREVIOUSLY CLEARLY DEFINED, THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT.
+NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT WILL STILL BE NECESSARY FOR DEFECTIVE METERS TO BE REPORTED TO THE COMPLAINTS SECTION OF THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT BY CALLING ONE OF THE TELEPHONE NUMBERS POSTED AT EACH LOCATION, THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED.
THE NEW SCHEDULES TO THE ORDINANCE ALSO SET OUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH THERE MAY BE DEFENCE TO COURT PROCEEDINGS FOR RECOVERY OF FIXED PENALTIES.
THESE INCLUDE VEHICLES ENGAGED IN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF ROADS- PUBLIC UTILITY SERVICES AND THE TRAMWAY= IN CASES OF EMERGENCY- VEHICLES USED ON POSTAL AND BUS SERVICES- WHEN LOADING AND UNLOADING PASSENGERS AND GOODS- AND WHERE MECHANICAL BREAKDOWNS OR OTHER STOPPAGES OCCUR BEYOND THE DRIVERS' CONTROL.
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UNDER AMENDED LAW, PAYMENT OF COURT COSTS RANGING FROM $20 TO $400 -- WILL BE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE MAGISTRATE. PREVIOUSLY, WHEN CASES WERE BROUGHT TO COURT, IT WAS MANDATORY TO ORDER PAYMENT OF COSTS BY DEFENDANTS FOUND LIABLE FOR THE FIXED PENALTIES INCURRED.
THE PAYMENT PERIOD FOR FIXED PENALTY TICKETS ALSO HAS BEEN EXTENDED FROM SEVEN TO 21 DAYS AND THE TICKET ITSELF HAS BEEN REDESIGNED TO PROVIDE OFFENDERS WITH MORE INFORMATION CONCERNING THE DATE, TIME AND LOCATION OF THE ALLEGED CONTRAVENTIONS HOW TO MAKE ÉNQUIRIES AND WHERE TO MAKE PAYMENTS.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT FEATURE OF THE NEW LEGISLATION IS THE INTRODUCTION OF GENERAL DISTRESS WARRANTS APPLICABLE TO ANY FIXED PENALTY DEBTS WHICH REMAIN UNPAID FOR MORE THAN A MONTH. THESE EMPOWER COURT BAILIFFS TO SEIZE ANY MOVABLE PROPERTY (NOT MERELY VEHICLES) BELONGING TO DEFAULTERS IN PAYMENT OF DEBTS.
PREVIOUSLY, TO ENFORCE PAYMENT, IT WAS NECESSARY FIRST TO SEIZE THE DEBTORS' VEHICLES UNDER COURT ORDERS AND DETAIN THESE FOR FOUR MONTHS BEFORE BEING ABLE TO OBTAIN DISTRESS WARRANTS,
+OWNERS SHOULD PROTECT THE IR INTERESTS AT ALL TIMES BY ENSURING THAT IF LIABILITY IS CONTESTED, THEY ATTEND COURT IN PERSON AND MAKE ANY PAYMENT DIRECTED BY THE MAGISTRATE, HE SAID.
+FINALLY, MOTORISTS ARE AGAIN REQUESTED TO CO-OPERATE WITH THE POLICE WHEN PARKING THEIR VEHICLES, TO DO SO IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW, IN ORDER TO PREVENT TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AND TO AVOID UNNECESSARY CONGESTION OF THE ROADS, HE ADDED.
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