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James Debono
31 unlucky drivers have been punished for their own foolishness – precisely for keeping their vehicles unattended and unlocked.
The statistics, a breakdown of fines meted out by local wardens, were presented in parliament earlier this week, showing that during the first eight months of 2006, wardens issued 25,426 fines for overspeeding – an indication that speed cameras have really made a difference in people’s pockets.
Overspeeding in fact tops the list of contraventions registered in the year, closely followed by traffic sign contraventions.
Traffic contraventions are the most common contraventions, occupying the top ten list of contraventions. Only 62 have been fined for dumping waste while 734 have been fined for littering. And 91 were fined for depositing their rubbish at inappropriate times – a very dubious crime when one considers that in main localities rubbish is collected at inappropriate times, when people are working.
Environmental crimes still do not feature sufficiently in the list of contraventions. Building contractors received 193 fines for cranes and machinery without a permit. In 46 cases cranes were blocking access to roads. In 14 cases contractors were fined for not removing their cranes before sunset.
802 fines were issued on vehicles emitting exhaust fumes. Only 18 fines were issued on buses emitting smoke or grit while nine others were fined for having an inefficient silencer.
Wardens have also singled out dog owners. 38 were fined for not carrying a dog bag, 10 for not removing dog faeces, and three for not having their dog on a leash.
Wardens are also having a hard time imposing the law, with 921 individuals fined for disobeying their orders – and two very uncivilised and incontinent persons fined for urinating in public!
jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt
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