WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 198.
HE POINTED TO A
19
SIGNIFICANT ANOMALY+ CONCERNING THE LEVEL
OF FINES IN THE FIXED PENALTY SYSTEM,
BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, HE CITED THE $140 PENALTY FOR ILLEGAL PARKING, COMPARED WITH THE FIXED PENALTY OF $100 SET FOR CERTAIN CRIMINAL OFFENCES.
THIS WAS INAPPROPRIATE BECAUSE EVEN THE LESS SERIOUS CRIMINAL OFFENCES WERE AT LEAST AS SERIOUS AS THE PARKING OFFENCES REFERRED TO.
TO CORRECT THIS, HE PROPOSED THAT THE $100 PENALTIES BE INCREASED TO $140 EXCEPT IN RESPECT OF VEHICLES EMITTING EXCESS SMOKE OR VISIBLE VAPOUR.
HE ALSO PROPOSED INCREASING THIS FROM $100 TO $200, FOLLOWING A RECOMMENDATION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION COMMITTEE, WHICH CONSIDERED THAT THE LEVEL OF THE PRESENT PENALTY DID NOT SUFFICIENTLY ENCOURAGE OWNERS TO MAINTAIN THEIR VEHICLES PROPERLY IN THIS REGARD.
THE PENALTY OF $200 FOR THE REMAINING OFFENCES WERE UNCHANGED.
TRAFFIC SIGNS REVIEW CONDUCTED
****
THE GOVERNMENT HAS CARRIED OUT A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF TRAFFIC SIGNS, COVERING GUIDELINES FOR THEIR LOCATION AND POSITIONING AS WELL AS METHODS OF MAKING THEM CLEARER AND MORE CONSPICUOUS, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON ALAN SCOTT, TOLD THE LÉGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THE REVIEW FOLLOWED AN UNDERTAKING GIVEN IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION ON THE SUBJECT RAISED BY THE HON WONG LAM IN 1979.
USEFUL STEPS HAVE SINCE BEEN TAKEN, ESPECIALLY IN CONNECTION WITH NEW ROAD PROJECTS, MR SCOTT SAID, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION RAISED TODAY BY MR WONG ABOUT THE PROGRESS MADE FOLLOWING THE UNDERTAKING.
MR SCOTT REPORTED THAT REMEDIAL WORK HAS ALSO BEEN CARRIED OUT AT SITES IDENTIFIED BY TRAFFIC ENGINEERS, AND SUGGESTED BY MOTORING BODIES AND BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
+HOWEVER, IN 1979 IT WAS CLEAR THAT MORE COMPREHENSIVE IMPROVEMENT WOULD FLOW FROM A SUBSTANTIAL REVISION OF THE ROAD TRAFFIC LEGISLATION. THIS HAS BEEN A LONG AND COMPLICATED EXERCISE WITH IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST THIS YEAR.
+THERE WILL *******