Local Government Minister Chandresh Sharma has described the mayor of Port of Spain as an "embarrassment" adding that Louis Lee Sing might be breaking the law with respect to the latest harsh penalties against drivers in the city.
Sharma told the Express newspaper that drivers who had to pay up to $1300 for parking violations may be entitled to compensation and the same applies to those whose vehicles were wrecked illegally.
The minister suggested that Lee Sing's activities "are outside of the law" since under the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act the Port of Spain city Corporation cannot impose fines higher that $500 for parking violations.
"I am not sure under which law the mayor is doing this, but he is really beginning to become an embarrassment now because as I understand, it was not a Council decision," Sharma told the paper.
Late last month Lee Sing started removing vehicles parked illegally in the suburban areas. Sharma said he has seen incidents where vehicles were removed although no law had been breached. Under such circumstances, he said, people would be entitled to compensation.
"I am hoping to meet with the mayor to discuss this exercise, once he attends the meeting I called with him, but we have to discuss this as it has gotten out of hand," Sharma said.
Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal wrote in her regular newspaper column over the weekend that her research has shown that there are no laws that indicate to her that the mayor had right to charge motorists $1,300.
The Motor Vehicle Road Traffic Act, section 108, allows police to remove a vehicle parked in breach of the traffic laws where the owner cannot be found or refuses to move it. Where a vehicle is removed the maximum fee payable to retrieve it is $500.
Lee Sing has insisted that he is acting within the law. He said the city is charging "administrative costs associated with the impounding of the vehicles", not increasing the fines or penalties set in the traffic regulations.
"People have gotten so accustomed to breaking the law that when asked not to break the law they have a problem with it...we at the Corporation have taken a vow to protect our pavements and that's what we are doing," he told the Express.
Sharma told the Express newspaper that drivers who had to pay up to $1300 for parking violations may be entitled to compensation and the same applies to those whose vehicles were wrecked illegally.
The minister suggested that Lee Sing's activities "are outside of the law" since under the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act the Port of Spain city Corporation cannot impose fines higher that $500 for parking violations.
"I am not sure under which law the mayor is doing this, but he is really beginning to become an embarrassment now because as I understand, it was not a Council decision," Sharma told the paper.
Late last month Lee Sing started removing vehicles parked illegally in the suburban areas. Sharma said he has seen incidents where vehicles were removed although no law had been breached. Under such circumstances, he said, people would be entitled to compensation.
"I am hoping to meet with the mayor to discuss this exercise, once he attends the meeting I called with him, but we have to discuss this as it has gotten out of hand," Sharma said.
Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal wrote in her regular newspaper column over the weekend that her research has shown that there are no laws that indicate to her that the mayor had right to charge motorists $1,300.
The Motor Vehicle Road Traffic Act, section 108, allows police to remove a vehicle parked in breach of the traffic laws where the owner cannot be found or refuses to move it. Where a vehicle is removed the maximum fee payable to retrieve it is $500.
Lee Sing has insisted that he is acting within the law. He said the city is charging "administrative costs associated with the impounding of the vehicles", not increasing the fines or penalties set in the traffic regulations.
"People have gotten so accustomed to breaking the law that when asked not to break the law they have a problem with it...we at the Corporation have taken a vow to protect our pavements and that's what we are doing," he told the Express.
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