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Egay Uy

THE Internet is pregnant with information, needless to state.  If only to further educate motorists who are apprehended for illegal parking, let me mention some items I found in the net on parking.

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Parking Law and Legal Definition says parking typically is defined as “the stopping or standing of a vehicle whether occupied or not”.  It is the standing of a vehicle otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading merchandise or passengers.

Section 4 of our own Traffic Code, City Ordinance No. 10551-2007, considers a vehicle to be parked “if it is stationary for the period during which the vehicle is not limited to the time needed to pick up or set down persons or goods.”

This means that if it will take the motorist longer time to move his vehicle after a passenger alights or boards, or goods to be loaded on or unloaded from, his vehicle, then he has already parked his vehicle.  If we further zoom in to this definition, waiting for somebody while your car is parked in a no-parking zone, is already a violation.

This brings to mind an ambulance of a private firm (that produces and sells intoxicating beverages) that was parked in front of a no-parking sign along Osmena street with the hazard lights flashing. I asked the driver if he was waiting for a patient.

The driver replied he was waiting for somebody who bought something from the store nearby. I asked him to move his vehicle because vehicular traffic behind him was already building up.

Of course the driver moved his vehicle although reluctantly.  I would have cited him for illegal parking had he not moved the ambulance after I asked him to.

Parking is illegal if the vehicle is placed in a restricted area, e.g., fire zone, blocking a fire hydrant, where there are no-parking signs, in pedestrian crosswalks, or on sidewalks among other restricted places.

A “no parking” sign means a motorist cannot park his vehicle there but can drop off or pick up passengers or goods.  The driver however must not leave his vehicle and attend to his business promptly.

A question was raised why it is illegal to park your vehicle facing the wrong way.  For one, it is an indication that the driver was driving on the wrong side of the road, hence could have caused a collision or other forms of vehicular accident.  Second, once the driver pulls out of the parking space, he will have to drive facing the wrong direction.  And, he could then make an illegal u-turn or obstruct traffic while trying to merge with the traffic on the other side of the road.

Whatever it is, let’s just observe traffic rules and regulations.  As we have often repeated, “balaod trapiko sundon ta para likay sa disgrasya ug multa.”

 

(Lawyer Egay Uy is the chairman of the city’s Task Force Hapsay Dalan.)

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