Sunday, 10th August 2008

Residents-only parking

Albert Cilia-Vincenti, Attard

Adrian Muscat Inglott's column feature continues to claim that resident parking arrangements taken up by some local councils are illegal, based on a judge's sentence arguing that residents do not own their street. Apparently this judge forgot that garage owners are permitted by law to actually own the street in front of their garage.

Furthermore, a judge's sentence does not constitute a new law and, to my knowledge, there is as yet no Maltese law prohibiting residents-only parking schemes.

What Valletta council (and others) have instituted, is the way forward to control traffic in our town and village cores - when shall we see Valletta's Palace Square, for example, converted back from an ugly car park into our capital's main square?

Is it possible that the thousands of our compatriots visiting European cities and towns have not noticed how non-resident vehicles are being prevented from street parking? Central London, for example, has had residents-only parking for around 20 years - and residents pay an annual fee for their parking permit. Others are towed away.

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Comments

Charles Camilleri (on 11/8/08)

@Mathew Borg. A case law is there for the Judge to refer and base his judgement on it. I am writing this from personal experience. In my case the Judge based his judgement on a similar case which happened years ago. Anyhow you can try it.

Matthew Borg (on 10/8/08)

@ Charles Camilleri

Not that I agree with these parking schemes, but no, a judgement does not constitute a law. Case law is there to be referred to, it is not the binding law that we are expected to oblige. Law becomes as such when a bill is passed by Parliament and, more specifically, when the President gives his assent. If there isn't a bill on this matter, then unfortunately, it is not illegal.

Charles Camilleri (on 10/8/08)

yes a Judge's sentence does constitute a law. In fact it is quoted when similar cases are brought before our courts. This is called a precedence case. Now suppose all villages towns introduce this residents' parking scheme tell me what would be the result.

E Gatt (on 10/8/08)

Wanna bet Mr Cilia-Vincenti that if local councils introduce a fee for resindents-only parking all hell will break loose?

If the same system of London is introduced, maybe anyone who is interested in parking in that area may pay the fee and get the permit, say office workers in the area etc. and so that would not be discriminatory but a paid-parking scheme which as you know is in force nearly in all cities abroad.