Wardens must be reined in

The introduction of the local wardens a few years back has proven a bonus to the traffic control regime in Malta and, notwithstanding the obvious nuisance to the unruly drivers, the presence of local wardens has helped to ensure that more people abide by the traffic regulations.

But, alas, the positive benefits deriving from the introduction of local wardens are being outweighed, unfortunately, by the abuses or acts of carelessness being perpetrated by some individuals. Family members recently fell victim to such abuses; being fined for different contraventions allegedly committed at a three-minute interval from each other while the car in question was parked in front of the house!

Obviously, for each alleged contravention, the accused has to take vacation leave from his workplace to appear at the local tribunal, where it is often his word against that of the local warden. The legal precept that one is innocent until proved guilty does not hold but rather one is guilty until he proves himself innocent! Besides, if the accused is cleared from the alleged contravention, he would still have lost half a day's work and precious time which he could have easily invested in a more profitable way!

Obviously, it is no use speaking of one's troubles with the local council's staff or elected councillors. Their attention is notable by its absence. When one pinpoints the blunders being perpetrated by the wardens within the local council's boundaries they merely state that they can do nothing and one should try to defend his case before the local tribunal.

To add insult to injury, and notwithstanding the clear dispositions of the Data Protection Act, on March 23 my son received three alleged contraventions which where not even sealed in an envelope! The alleged contraventions took place towards the end of January and beginning of February. According to a legal notice published last July, notice of a contravention must be given within 48 hours. Obviously, even though instead of the statutory two days he received his notification within two months, he must still present himself at the local tribunal at the stipulated date, taking time off from his work and in default of producing a witness, being declared guilty for being unable to prove his innocence.

This is a situation that should not be tolerated anymore. The local wardens must be reined in. Perpetrators of contraventions should be punished within the remit of the law while making sure that wardens do not exceed their limits and paying attention when claiming that someone committed a contravention (and not fine someone who is absent from the locus crimini).