Parking problem? Wrecked

We need to get serious in this place and stop playing games. CoP Williams on the issue of wrecking in POS said that the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service is supposed to try to find owners and issue tickets. Well, if that is not a joke I don't know what is. Here is a bit of reality, the CoP is kinda right, yes the Police should try to find owners of vehicles before wrecking, and they do. Allow me to demonstrate how they do this. The Police officer jumps out the wrecker, looks left, then right, and by the time he looks left again, the wrecking crew already has the vehicle in tow. SO all this nancy story aint cutting it. Whilst we all know what should be done, we must at all times factor in reality.

Here is another example of what the police say should be done. Some years ago, a high-ranking police officer was on Power102.1fm Trinidad & Tobago on the morning show with Marcia Henville and Sherma Wilson, I believe is was ACP Piggot [I can't be certain], anyways, he had indicated then in response to concerns regarding persons attempting to make reports at police stations and told they need to go to other stations, something about jurisdictions blah blah blah, that no citizen should ever be turned away as they attempt to make reports. Again, a bit of reality, this continues to this day.

Photo via http://www.newsday.co.tt/day/1,42981.html

So what is the solution to this parking issue in POS, illegal parking that is? First off, POS, the capital of this country has serious parking issues. Businesses because of poor planning from day one of our so-called independence have been allowed to set up shop without any form of regulations. Then there are those patriotic citizens, who on every independence hoax day don their vehicles with red white and black, who disobey simple laws. So what are the authorities to do? I totally agree with CoP Williams that something has to be done. But is wrecking the answer?

Presently I believe most of the fee required to get back one's vehicle once towed goes to the wrecker, so who really benefits from this so-called law enforcement measure? Speaking about law enforcement, law enforcement should be designed to deter, is wrecking deterring persons from parking illegal? I would say no considering the number of wrecking vehicles out there now, this is big business for someone. Talking about big business, who owns these wreckers by the way? Anyways, moving on.

So what is the solution to this problem of illegal parking? I say ban wrecking in the city, have police on patrol, have them issue tickets. If legislation is required then get it done. We need to stop this backward mentality. What about parking meters?

Wrecking is not the tool, wrecking only benefits the wrecker owners, it does nothing in terms of deference.