Driving into wrecker’s trap

THE EDITOR: About 11.15 am Tuesday October 12, I parked my car near the intersection of Jerry and Church Streets and went to the National Insurance Office in St James. On returning it was not there. I looked back and saw it parked in front of the St James Police Station. It took me a few minutes to compose myself and approach the officer who was processing the tickets and collecting the fines. When I asked him why my car was wrecked, he replied that I was parked too close to the corner, as I looked at him in utter disbelief and said that in my judgment, I was not. He continued to say that there was a faded line on the pavement to guide me. May I mention that this is one of those semi- circle corners on a side street.

I then remarked that I do not walk around with a measuring tape but depend on proper road signs for guidance. A plain clothes officer then flipped a few pages in the book and said there are many motorists like me who cannot judge corner distance and that the people in the business opposite usually warn people about parking there. My response was that I am a law abiding citizen of Trinidad and Tobago and would have immediately heeded that advice and that I was puzzled by the fact that he did not wreck all those cars parked on the wrong side of the Western Main Road. He then informed me that the regulations had changed and that one could now park on both sides. The road signs there still read no parking on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Please note that my wrecked car was parked on the corner of Carlton Avenue and Lazzari Street.

Talking about correct distance the mark on Bournes Road at the intersection with Quamina Street seems less than the required thirty feet. Police officers are there to protect and serve and should ensure that all road signs are clearly visible and correct. I felt as though I drove into a trap and that some of those police officers had a field day, as that is a lucrative spot from their vantage position. To them I say that indiscretion in the execution of your duty is also a form of unfair behaviour. The fine of $100 will come back to me good measure pressed, shaken together and running over. The measure you measure with will be measured back to you.

JUNE LUCAS
Diego Martin