A citizen received a Statement of offence for having parked her vehicle after 3:00 P.M. in a zone where street parking is reserved for residents (SRRR) between “9h–3h”.
She submits that the hours appearing on the parking sign are confusing. She had understood that the zone was no longer reserved after 3:00 P.M. when, in fact, it was so only after 3:00 A.M. In other words, vehicles without parking stickers can park in this zone only from 3:00 A.M. until 9:00 A.M.
Certain that she cannot be the only one in this situation, she makes representations to the Borough to try to have the signage modified, unsuccessfully. She then contacts the OdM.
After a brief analysis, the OdM agrees that the hours showing on the sign (“9h–3h”) are indeed confusing. We begin discussions with the Borough.
The SPVM is asked to analyse, on a sampling basis, the tickets previously issued in similar circumstances (same kind of tickets in a zone having the same signage, in the same area). These verifications confirm quite convincingly that these signs are confusing.
Our investigation and visits on site also show that these parking zones are seldom used by drivers not holding a SRRR sticker, when they are not reserved to residents.
Different scenarios are considered to resolve this problem. At the end, the Borough decides to reserve these zones for residents holding a SRRR sticker at all times, thereby eliminating any risk of confusion. 30 streets are affected by this change.
