Councils make €5.79m from traffic fines

Dr Savior Tortell Pisani

Mar 21st 2009, 23:56

Poor Marsa!!!... I'm starting to feel sorry for them...

Why don't they sprinkle a few speed cameras here and there?
... Particularly now that they're in fashion!!!

Barrie Smith

Mar 20th 2009, 14:14

R>Attard, they might look like wardens and might be (earning?? i'll rephrase that)getting paid a lousy warden's wage but look at the Maltese & their sister island comparing the knowledge and the law they are still acting as a bunch of amateurs, sorry, but your wardens need to spend at least a week or two weeks in my country to learn how things should be done and not leaping on new drivers especially us who are touring the islands who are not up to date with your rules and regulations, it looks as if there 2 sorts of rules - one for the Maltese and the other for the K reg. B.Smith( tourist)

Renald Attard

Mar 20th 2009, 06:50

I dont mind paying a fine... if i was in the wrong.... however i do oppose to some tactics that warden use...for example the phanthom warden at zurrieq... i got two fines one for displaying my number plate in the car windscreen .. because it fell the same day .. and another for parking suppossedly in a no parking space... both occassions i recieved the contraventions by post... as far as i know the wardens have to place a ticket under your wipers not send it to you by mail... and my other question is what improvements in road conditions are we experiencing from this phenominal amount of money

L..Galea

Mar 19th 2009, 23:42

maria busuttil
NEVER pay a fine.
File a petition with the Board for petitions explaining your case.
This shows what the cowardly wardens do.

M Farrugia

Mar 19th 2009, 23:22

san giljan, sliema, valletta, san pawl - all councils with pn majorities - what a nice coincidence

maria busuttil

Mar 19th 2009, 19:01

My husband stopped on double yellow lines at the round about of Santa Lucia, till I got out my spray as I was gettingan attack of angina, just for few seconds and got a fine of 21 euros, he never got the papers or advice and then wegot the Tribunal decision, that as we never did turn up, and the fine went up to 50 euros funny sick or what shall Isay to this, please note that I hold a blue badge , and in europe I or any driver who is driving me around is allowedto stop on double yellow lines!!!!! Shame Shame Shame, ___________________________________________

Brian Maloret

Mar 19th 2009, 16:05

M.Gauci

Thank you for your apology.

What I was trying to demonstrate to you in relating the story about my son in the UK being issued fines four times which on appeal were rescinded is that traffic wardens sometimes exceed their powers when issuing tickets. I was with my son on one occasion when he parked in his car in a car park in Belfast and he parked in such a way so as not to block an entrance to a private property. To do this, the front outside wheel of his car was about two inches on a yellow line. Because of his past experiences, he took a photograph on his mobile phone of how he had parked. When we went back to the car lo and behold there was a parking ticket (£60). My son wrote to the local authority with an explanation and photographic evidence and the fine was rescinded. Even the police are not exempt from overstepping the mark. In 1990, I was travelling on the M1 motorway between London and Manchester when I was stopped by the police for speeding which I didn't think I was. I went to court and won my case.

M.Gauci

Mar 19th 2009, 15:45

Mr. Maloret
Apologies for mistyping your name before - assure you it was not intentional.

However I continue to fail to agree with you on whether taxes are another form of tax or not. Notwithstanding the fact that wardens operate in stealth and pounce on their victims or not, the fact remains, and this is pivotal to my argument, that should you be constantly observant of the law, no super warden or other would ever pounce on you with the infamous ticket.

I am not here arguing whether some fines or how they are imposed is just or not, all I am trying to say is that fines can never be equated with taxes.Whatever the UK authorities said, is either being taken out of context (of what they meant) or else, they are just as mistaken.

Try not to pay taxes !......and you get a fine for that. But you get fined because you choose to.

Franco Farrugia

Mar 19th 2009, 15:22

Local councils would do well to remember that they have a responsibility towards animal welfare. They would therefore do well to remember animal sanctuaries when they are discussing their yearly budgets. If they expect such sanctuaries to help them in taking on board unwanted strays, then, they should also be prepared to pay for it, and how!

And while at it, allow me to point out that while on the one hand I DO believe that it is important to curb traffic regulations violations - thus making our roads safer, I hope! - at the same time, don't we think that we are going about it with an an warranted degree of glee??? Point made, I hope.

Brian Maloret

Mar 19th 2009, 15:07

M.Gauci

Please spell my name correctly.

A number of local authorities in the UK have admitted that a lot of these fines are stealth taxes that are levied to raise income. Just read some of the comments made in this newspaper over the past couple of months from motorists in Malta being "victims" of over zealous traffic wardens who hide behind corners and jump out on the unsuspecting motorist and issues a fine for the most trivial of offences. Thats what I called collecting stealth taxes by underhand methods. One of my sons living in the UK was a "victim" four times of these methods and each time he appealed and won his case each time. Lets hope that more motorists in Malta do the same.

M.Gauci

Mar 19th 2009, 14:43

Brian Marolet
Use your brian mate, taxes have to be paid, fines are voluntary...you break the law you pay, you dont break the law you dont pay. Its as simple as that.
To equate taxes with fines is hilarious.

Brian Maloret

Mar 19th 2009, 13:23

Parking fines, speed fines, litter fines, etc, etc,. All are stealth taxes that the Government and local councils use to boost their coffers.

john fenech

Mar 19th 2009, 13:07

What was the percentage of these fines for: over speeding; not stopping at red light; not stopping on pedestrian zebra crossing; ignoring stop sign; entering a side street from the wrong side(cutting corners); overloading; loads not covered properly; deposit of concrete residue; oil leakage; faulty lights; tinted glass; fog lights; loud music; slow driving in outer lane; double parking; illegal parking in front of financial institutions; overtaking without proper warning(without indication or late indication) the list is not exhaustive but the answer, if ever supplied, will be indicative as to what the authorities mean by safety on our roads!

g. scerri

Mar 19th 2009, 12:56

Don't you think that any judgement has to be preceeded by a break-down of the figures. Only then will we know if these fines were trivial or well-deserved.

J. Schembri

Mar 19th 2009, 12:35

So ,efficient roads are built with taxpayer's money,( surely not with councils' money), and with the excuse of the prevention of traffic accidents , the councils together with the local company downgrade the road to a speed of 50 kpm. If anything we should have THE POLICE to oversee the whole process and where cameras are planted the councils should be responsible for the upkeep of that road. Drivers have a right to know what speed the camera is reading.
Thanks Austin.

Schembri Ray

Mar 19th 2009, 12:19

If someone breaks the law let him/her be fined. That's the law. But my question is this- Are the fines to educate the people or to collect money from people? A month ago I got a fine after 21 years of driving in my hometown- b'kara. I parked in an unloading/loading bay for 30 mins. I payed my fine but was it a justified one? I went to buy some goods and parked on the first space I found. I would have got a refund if I contested it but is it worthed to go to the tribunal and lose my work. Obviously not! Second point is that in my street (Casolani Str) it have 3 bays for disabled parking and another one for loading/unloading. These are being abused; as many times these are used as a private parking for these reseved families and not by those in need. Time for loading/unloading must reflect the shop hours of that specified shop and not all the day or hours that the shop is closed!! Education is important but abuses are to be fined double.

Antonio Vella

Mar 19th 2009, 11:44

What was Balzan LC's share from this €5.79 million if I may ask?. Hope it's enough to employ some street cleaners as the village has never been so shabby and filthy. Or else they should just get a group from the many illegal emigrants roaming the streets or sunbathing in the main square, give them a decent wage and just tell them to clean up the place. The person to supervise them is already available it seems and, from what I hear, he hardly puts in a full day's work these days.

Kevin Borg

Mar 19th 2009, 11:29

@ Colin Camilleri

First of all a fine is not a tax. Or else a person who parks wherever he thinks he should would only be imposing a tax on himself. So reflect on this and you will surely come to this conclusion, unless you continue to hear Super One news.

On the fact that none of this money goes for reparing roads you are right on track and have hit the nail on its head. However the money is not going to make up for the election deficit. It is going in the pockets of all those who register as unemployed and work behing the scene, allowences for single mothers, paying up for illegal immigrants, and for all those that in my opinion are a brunt to society with their idea that the state is there to serve them.

And please if you think that by having a colaition goverment between PL and Greens these fines will all vanish, well WELCOME TO OUR DREAM should read the greeting sign at Malta International Airport

Jean-Pierre Aquilina

Mar 19th 2009, 11:26

@Colin Camilleri

Government is right is claiming that fines are not taxes. Wheras taxes are imposed and cannot be avoided (unless evaded - which is illegal), a fine can be avoided by observing laws and rules.

J. Agius

Mar 19th 2009, 11:12

But weren't we told some days ago that some councils, among them Birkirkara, did not receive a euro from these fines? Or am I mistaken?

J Oatmon

Mar 19th 2009, 11:05

With 'money for nothing' available from the 'snail speed cameras' - I would expect these cameras to be just about everywhere by this time next year.

The councils will be raking in the cash from the average motorist, not the speedsters, with these daft 60km limits.

M Zammit

Mar 19th 2009, 11:03

It that gross revenue or net revenue? How much of the fines collected did the councils actually get after deducting expenditure to manage the system?

lgalea

Mar 19th 2009, 10:58

All drivers remember when local councils elections time come round that the local councils are ROBBING you our of your hard-earned money.
Go and vote for your political party/candidates and then write your message on your vote.
That is the only way they understand.

Anthony Briffa

Mar 19th 2009, 10:53

If the councils made €5.79 million profit in 2008 out fines, likewise the investment of the contractors running the system must have made a considerable return, making them millionaires. And these are the figures for just one year. Multiply by the number of years the system has been in place and anybody can come to close result. What we should be told now how much money was made through the speed camers in the regional road tunnel during the works on the bridge, which lasted for over two years and how were the fines shared between the St. Julians council and the contractor. These fines are excessive and the ADT should carryout a monitoring exercise into the approch of the wardens towards the parking and traffic problems, which at times is nothing less than a persecution of drivers. There only training is to act like a machine dishing out tickets to sustain their wages and make their employers richer. ADT should consider corrective measures to the wardens operative.

JOHN MAHONEY

Mar 19th 2009, 10:50

il -flus misruqin ma jitgauwdex !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.Zammit

Mar 19th 2009, 10:47

Easy dudes....
None of that 5.79M came out of my pocket ! Why ? Because I did not break any law.

Why are you fuming about these funds ? If you broke the law, tough, you contributed towards the prize, but why moan ? I mean you broke the law - you pay for it ? And here I am not talking about unjust fines. No one agrees with those.

But surely driving with your mobile stuck to your ear should be fined. What about over speeding, go through stop signs etc... etc... I think the authorities are actually very very lenient. Why not book everyone that turns the car without making use of the indicators ?

Nobody likes paying a fine, but fines are there to teach the recipient to observe the law and not be a danger to anyone. Parking illegally is dangerousm is it it ?

You sound like convicts in a prison moaning that they are unjustly serving a sentence. Whatever they do with the funds is their choice. Hopefully it serves not to increase our taxes to finance councils.
Oh by the way I have no connection with councils or these funds. I just observe_the_law.

s schembri

Mar 19th 2009, 10:46

@Colin Camilleri
Dear Mr. Camilleri, I have been driving for the past 13 years and the total fines I got were 2. So those getting the fines are mainly because they are careless drivers. I do not think that, as you put it the government is ' ..boasting how much money it made out of the fines'. The prime minister was only answering a parliamentary question.

Muscat.Pat

Mar 19th 2009, 10:46

At least the same amount was made by the company servicing the wardens. How amount some competition by several warden's company rather than just the MONOPOLY of one; laughing its way to the bank! Its recession proof as well!

Joe Camilleri

Mar 19th 2009, 10:45

So the St Julians council made €550,863 just from fines. what is it doing with all that money??? They should turn St Julian into a safe heaven

John Camilleri

Mar 19th 2009, 10:40

So there are still many guys who couldn't care less. I know a guy who parks anywhere he finds even knowing he is breaking the law because [he says it:] money no problem for him.

Colin Camilleri

Mar 19th 2009, 10:20

Government just rubbing salt in the maltese taxpayer wounds and boasting how much money it made out of the fines - and they even insist that these are NOT TAXES. If only a small fraction of that money ended up on repairing the roads, we would be much happier. But no, that money could be needed somewhere else, if nothing to make up for the election deficit.
Keep it up GonziPN. It is just a shame that those 51% who DID NOT vote for you have to pay the brunt of the other 49%. So much in the interest of democracy.

G Micallef

Mar 19th 2009, 10:19

It would be interesting to know what were the fines collected from Gozo. In all probability quite a few pertained to drivers whose residence is in Malta.

Manuel Mifsud

Mar 19th 2009, 10:15

How was all this money spent? It should go towards repairs and maintenance of streets in the locality. Mind you, I'm all out for order and discipline, however the fines should be reasonable and relative to the wages we earn and, at the same time, the funds collected should be well spent.

R.Hawkes (regular visitor)

Mar 19th 2009, 10:14

Yes no wonder -so, Watch out for< the eye of the Tiger> thats a Gozitan or a Maltese warden, its true what they say then, when in Malta best to bus it or walk it, its a sure way of keeping whats left of your holiday money in your pocket. I guess they are doing their job and that is to squeeze more money, pity the roads are still in a sorry state of affairs with so much fines collected from the people and us tourists in a small country like yours, mind you we got the same in the UK, but the councils that collect traffic fines do not boost of how much they made out of us, they tent to keep it hush hush under their hats, anywell everyone to his own i suppose.
Tourist from Britian.