About mid-October this year I was fined for touching the Rabat Road bus lane about 10 seconds prior to 9 a.m., when the bus lane was reopened to general traffic. I was to appear before the Qormi Tribunal in about two months' time if I wanted to contest the contravention but I decided to pay up anyway.

Later I was glad to learn, through a government statement, that that particular bus lane was irregular and that we were to claim a refund of the Lm10 from the council in question. So I wrote to the Qormi council and asked them to offset the Lm10 against another fine which was due for another ticket.

In reply this council warned me to pay the other Lm10 and to claim on the Birkirkara council under whose jurisdiction Rabat Road is placed. So I claimed on the Birkirkara council and again, no play; I was once more bounced off to the Transport Authority. So I sensed that I have entered into a tennis match and I was to be bounced off from one end of the court to the other.

At this stage, I ask the government department concerned to come up with a clear direction and let us know without any more hassle how we are to get our money back. I am sure that if this were the other way round there would not be any corners to navigate. I await some clear ruling as to how this refund will be paid.

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