Matthew Bonello (May 2) alleges that a local warden gave him a ticket in Sir Ugo Mifsud Street, Ta' Xbiex, although he did not exceed the 90-minute limit for parking, according to a recently introduced parking scheme.
The facts are as follows: When the warden passed on foot patrol at 9 a.m., Mr Bonello's car was observed already parked in that street with the clock on the windscreen set for 9.30 a.m. The warden waited the full time, just in case there was a genuine mistake, and passed again at 10.35 to find the car still parked in the same street - at which point the contravention was issued.
It is pertinent to note that, under this new parking scheme, vehicles cannot return to the same street within an hour of having parked for the 90 minutes allowed because the scheme is intended to favour residents, who complained to the local council on a lack of parking space.
Mr Bonello laments that when he phoned Ta' Xbiex council, the receptionist told him the council "was not involved in issuing tickets (m'għandux x'jaqsam)". It is pertinent to state that all customer care relationships lie with the councils. Such a reply is totally wrong and unacceptable.
When there are situations where the public feels they need to discuss issues or a bone of contention, they should make the case to the local council, which would refer the matter to the District Authorised Officer, who is employed by the respective Joint Committees to manage the system in its entirety.
Mr Bonello has several options, apart from writing to newspapers: he can make a complaint to the council, as was suggested even in a couple of comments to the letter on timesofmalta.com; he can write a petition to the Petitions Board; or he can contest the contravention before the Local Tribunal. Again, he need not go himself, but he can send his authorised representative.
Wardens, it is worth reiterating, do not issue tickets to pay for their salaries or to increase the income of their employers. Local warden agencies are contracted out by the Joint Committees of the local councils to offer a service in relation to enforcement, irrespective of how many contraventions are issued. It is the role of wardens both to educate and to enforce the law.
Wardens are trained and also have to constantly update themselves through refresher courses in order to retain their licence. Finally, it is the local councils and the warden agencies who police their wardens.
Each inquiry and/or complaint is investigated and action taken where necessary.
Another correspondent, Joel Azzopardi, commenting on Mr Bonello's letter on timesofmalta.com, writes about waiting 45 minutes for a warden to arrive from Msida when he was involved in a collision on the ferry at Ċirkewwa. This must have happened over a year ago because the procedure has since changed.
Drivers are asked to settle the matter either on board the vessel or to take their vehicles off and settle the matter on the quay so as not to interfere with the ferry schedule.