Group calls for milder illegal parking penalties

Macau Federation of Transportation representatives pose for a picture

Nine representatives of the Macau Federation of Transportation, together with lawmakers Lei Cheng I and Kwan Tsui Heng, visited the Transport Bureau (DSAT) yesterday calling for the government to revise its latest penalties for illegal parking.

The group claimed that heavy vehicles are forced to park on the side of the roads because their large sizes render them unable to legally park in the city’s parking lots.

Association president Chio Pou Wan said: “We support the government’s policy in a general way, but some parts lack communication between all the parties involved.”

The current policy revision not only increased the penalty for illegal parking, but also increased the cost of vehicles’ annual inspection. If vehicles do not pass the preliminary test each year, the vehicles’ owners will be required to pay a higher amount for a second test within the same year.

The association condemned the government for being completely unable to ensure if vehicles are roadworthy after the tests.

The association suggested that the government should ensure the quality of operations conducted at vehicle testing centers instead of increasing fees. They further suggested that a reporting mechanism that allows car owners not to suffer from loss caused by factors beyond their control should be established.

The association also hopes that the government can improve the city’s public transportation network and build additional parking lots of different types to reduce the chance of drivers breaking the law.

In the letter delivered to the DSAT director, the association expressed their hope that law enforcement officers responsible for inspecting the cases will distinguish between two situations: those regarding private vehicles and those regarding vehicles for other purposes.

The letter also says that many professional drivers are middle-aged and are the primary breadwinners in their families. If the authorities unfairly punish them, the drivers’ families will struggle to survive.

While there are further considerations the association hopes DSAT will address, its final appeal is for the government to reduce or waive the current penalties for illegal parking.

Speaking to the media, lawmaker Lei Cheng I said the transportation authorities had announced that 100 parking spaces will be added in Parque Industrial da Concórdia and in Estr. Flor de Lotus in February and March.

The group delivered the letter to DSAT director Kelvin Lam Hin San in person.