LTA plans to use CCTVs to curb illegal parking
Illegal parkers beware. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is launching a trial of a closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera system to deal with illegal parking problems along roads.
In a tender called last week to contractors to run a six-month trial, LTA hopes the system improves its detection of such offences.
Two public roads have been targeted for trial, but it is unclear where these sites are. The sites, however, will be 150m long and two lanes wide each, reported The Straits Times.
The CCTV cameras will capture the licence plate details of vehicles parked in prohibited zones round the clock, and under all weather and lighting conditions. The contractor who wins the tender will then produce the evidence of drivers breaking the law.
The quality of images and videos will be reviewed by LTA during the trial, which will determine the viability of using it as evidence in court.
The offences include parking along roads with parallel continuous white lines, a single continuous yellow line, double continuous yellow lines, a single zig-zag yellow line and double zig-zag yellow lines.
This is believed to be the first time LTA is trying this method to curb illegal parking. Motorists chalked up about 22,000 summons a month on such offences, which is about the same as the monthly average issued by the traffic police from 2007 till November last year, when LTA took over this duty.
A spokesperson said that that LTA’s use of technology will encourage voluntary compliance among motorists.
Currently, the agency depends on traffic wardens, auxiliary police officers and its own uniformed enforcement officers to enforce parking regulations.
The spokesperson added that their officers go on regular patrols to catch drivers who park illegally and obstruct the flow of traffic. She added that these staff can be deployed at any area.
Illegal parking is an offence and owners of light vehicles face a S$50 to S$120 fine if caught.
Owners of heavy vehicles face fines ranging from S$80 to S$150. Certain offences carry demerit points as well.
