Pedestrian crossing‘trap’ for motorists

THE EDITOR: I appeal to the wrecker service that operates in the Woodbrook/St James area where I live. I have been observing a practice that I think is unfair on my street whereby an almost faded pedestrian crossing is causing motorists to pay $500 for supposed “illegal” parking.

To begin with, the “crossing,” for want of a better word, is not complete, as there is no sign or flashing amber light to advise approaching motorists that there is a crossing ahead. Is this not what the crossing is for? Is parking there then illegal if the crossing is “incomplete?”

But as so many other unfinished things in this nation, it prevails to be a “trap” for poor unsuspecting motorists that for the most part park there temporarily to go and purchase lunch on the avenue. Many do not observe the almost faded lines on the road and have to pay an additional $500 for their lunch.

Surely it will not take a million dollars (or maybe it will) to have the crossing repainted. In the meantime, the hard working wrecker sees it as easy “prey” to simply make the block and reel in the “fish” day after day.

A bigger problem is that this is just one of many such crossings and faded “yellow” lines that are supposed to indicate to motorists how close to a corner they should park right through Woodbrook and St James. Leaves me to wonder if they even want us to know where we should park as it seems a lucrative business for them.

I thought that laws and rules are firstly for the purpose of preventing “crime” rather than having our law enforcement officers enforce them with charges and fines. Is it not said that “prevention is better than cure?” Food for thought, sweet sweet TT.

W DOPSON, Woodbrook