Higher fines for motorists who park illegally repeatedly

A tiered fines system for illegal parking will be introduced from next year, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Monday. -- PHOTO: THE NEW PAPER
A tiered fines system for illegal parking will be introduced from next year, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Monday. -- PHOTO: THE NEW PAPER

SINGAPORE - A tiered fines system for illegal parking will be introduced from next year, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Monday.

Under the new rules, motorists who receive their second offence notice within a year will have to pay more in fines.

For example, a motorist caught parking a light vehicle along unbroken double yellow lines will be fined $110, instead of $70, if that is his second offence within 12 months.

"About half of all illegal parking traffic notices issued between 2011 and 2014 are committed by repeat offenders," LTA said.

The number of demerit points, which are meted out for more serious illegal parking offences, will remain unchanged.

To enforce and deter illegal parking, CCTV cameras will also be installed at 40 more locations, such as along the stretch of Grange Road between Mandarin Gallery and Cineleisure, and along Rochor Road in front of Fu Lu Shou complex.

These CCTV cameras, which provide round-the-clock enforcement, have already been installed at 30 locations.

Dr Chin Kian Keong, LTA's group director for transportation and road operations, said the authority has "observed improved traffic conditions along some stretches of roads which used to suffer from obstruction caused by indiscriminately parked vehicles, such as along Beach Road, Bishan Road and Pasir Panjang Road".

"Besides improving traffic flow for cars and other road users, our bus commuters have also benefited from smoother traffic along these roads," Dr Chin added.

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