PARKING IN THE CITY

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21732, 14 March 1936, Page 8

PARKING IN THE CITY

-. .♦ — CONFLICT OF LAWS OBSTRUCTION CAUSED BY MOTOR-CARS ...... It*JiiSietimes happens that the bylawslilft local body conflict with the land. When this occurs, those who comply with the by-Jaw and in doing so break the. law *re 'liable to prosecution. . An example of a by-law which conflicts with the law is the one passed by the Christchurch City Council to govern the parking of motor-cars in Colombo street The by-law says that motorists may leave their cars in the busy parts of Colombo street—between Cashel and Hereford streets, and Gloucester and Armagh streets—at certain times of the day. But in taking advantage of this privilege, motorists sometimes obstruct other traffic, and since obstruction is an offence in law, they become liable to prosecution. The interesting point about this situation is that motorists may observe the letter and the spirit of the by-law to the full and yet be guilty of an offence. The offence is committed like this: A motorist may park his car between Cashel and Hereford streets and leave it for the' prescribed time. While he is away, other motorists park their cars behind him and in front of him. When a tram comes along on the same side as the parkjed cars, following traffic is obstructed, since oncoming traffic prevents, passing on the outside and the parked cars block the passage on the inside. The owners of all the cars which have caused the blockage have then committed an offence and are liable to prosecution. It is possible, of course, for a motorist to park his car in the same area without committing an offence, since the offence is determined entirely by the circumstances. If the police should decide to take action, it is possible that a section of the City Council's parking by-laws would be seriously disturbed.