JMPD taking action is good news

This was stated by Mr Rob Crawford, a resident who complained on several occasions to the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) about illegal parking as the chairperson of the Sector 1 Crime Forum.

He was referring to a recent article published in the EXPRESS in which a man questioned law enforcement currently taking place in the suburb.

Mr Richard Cockburn, who regularly visits Cyrildene and was fined once, said he agrees there must be laws which people must abide by, but when the legal system makes a profit from a bad situation, he is sure the public has the right to find a better solution.

He said there are officers every weekend issuing fines to motorists for illegal parking.

Mr Cockburn referred to the recently painted red lines, to prevent people from parking in certain areas, as “the only new services which have been applied to Derrick Avenue and a money making parameter”.

He also referred to an incident in which he indicated to an officer that a vehicle was parked in a parking bay with white lines, meaning that a fine should not be issued. He was, however, informed that the parking bay was on a pavement.

He said he indicated that there were no signs saying no parking.

Mr Crawford said just because there are parking bay lines in the area of concern, does not mean they are all legal.

He said, “We requested action on several occasions and I am glad to say there is now better communication and co-operation between us and the JMPD.

“I am glad that people are complaining. This means the JMPD is doing its job. In roads such as Derrick Avenue and Janelea Street, several parking bays were marked illegally by shop owners. They acted against the law. Parking problems in this area are rife. Motorists park their vehicles on pavements, park the wrong way, cause traffic congestion and pose a threat to others. Several meetings were held to discuss these problems. A paid parking system was one of the options. Following our concerns raised, the JMPD started taking action and this must continue,” he said.

Sergeant Marius Boolsen from the JMPD said Cyrildene is visited every day.

“We received complaints about the illegal parking and are taking action. Motorists do not want to listen. Now, the more people who complain about us taking action against them for contravening the law, the better. We are doing our job and want to eradicate the problem,” he said.

He said contraventions in Derrick Avenue include stopping in no stopping areas, people found in possession of unlicensed vehicles and motorists parking five metres within an intersection.

@JoziReporter