PARKING METER POLICY

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29330, 8 October 1960, Page 15

PARKING METER POLICY

City Motorists

Surprised

A ruling from the traffic committee of the Christchurch City Council, that all vehicles parked by parking meters that showed an expired sign should receive a ticket, caused surprise among the motoring public and extra work for the traffic department when the new ploicy began yesterday. At the traffic department’s offices seven officers were engaged all day in dealing with motorists who had received notices and at one stage of the day 'the queue of offenders reached out the door and into the yard. Several women burst into tears as they tried to explain their offence to the traffic officers.

During the day more than 100 cautions were issued to motorists, and as many written explanations appeared to have been received by the department. Previously the department has given a small latitude towards motorists over-parked, and the city by-law on parking meters states that a vehicle shall not be deemed to be parked if it is standing for a period not exceeding two minutes.

It is not known if parking meters only allow the 30 minutes parking or the 32 minutes allowed by the by-laws. If only 30 minutes is allowed on a parking meter, the ticketing of vehicles as soon as the expired notice shows would be against the by-law.