Flexible laws

On May 4, I had some errands at the Ferries in Sliema. I drove around the area in question for 35 minutes trying to find a legal parking slot, coming across various vehicles parked illegally, with hazard lights on. I could count more than four double-parked vehicles in the same spot for more than 20 minutes.

I also spotted two traffic wardens patrolling the area twice, passing by these double-parked cars. Frustrated, but not wishing to go against the law myself, I headed to the multi-storey parking in High Street.

While on foot doing my errands, I again came across these same wardens and I felt compelled to ask them about the laws they are supposed to uphold.

To my astonishment, I learnt that double-parking is given a blind eye, as this contravention is considered as an obstruction, which carries a Lm45 fine, quite a hefty one in the warden's opinion. I asked the warden if I could have double-parked my vehicle in the same manner instead of driving around and ending up at the car park.

She said I could have done this at my own risk; if any one reported me I would have had my car towed or fined, otherwise it was in the wardens' discretion whether to uphold the law or not. I also pointed out to the warden that a car just metres away from where we were talking was parked on a double yellow line next to a pedestrian crossing, endangering anyone crossing there, as it was blocking the view of oncoming traffic.

The warden's answer was that they are given instructions by Sliema local council and if I had any complaints I should direct them to the council. The warden added that when they were detailed in other districts they were instructed to fine every contravention they came across.

Is it legal for one local council to encourage Malta's laws to be broken while another council goes by the book?

Is it fair that a law-abiding citizen goes through so much hassle not to break the law while others endangering other people's life and obstructing the traffic flow are encouraged to continue breaking the law? No wonder discipline is hard to catch on in this country and the law-abiding taxpayer feels short changed all the time.

I hope that either the department responsible for local councils, the Police Commissioner, or whoever is responsible for upholding the law gives a reasonable answer.