THE EDITOR, Sir:
I HAVE become cognisant of the fact that some Government agencies in the country are deliberately milking, sapping and squeezing citizens of limited and hard-earned money. One such agency is the KSAC.
On Wednesday, February 26, a friend and myself went downtown Kingston to conduct business on our lunch break when we had a horrifying experience. After leaving one businessplace we proceeded to get some lunch. We decided to get our meal at this quaint little restaurant on East Queen Street.
As we cruised along the above-mentioned street, we saw a line of parked vehicles and three marked vacant parking spaces. We pulled over and parked in one and went on our merry way. We returned to find only the spot and marks in which we left the car.
Then we saw three policemen on patrol. We went across to them and told them that the car was stolen. After showing them where the car was parked we were advised to check with the car pound first and to come back to make the report if it wasn't there. We thought this advice strange, because we had parked in a parking space marked with white paint. We were in for another surprise as the car was there and we were asked to pay a fine of $3,500 at the KSAC's office. I took it upon myself to ask why the vehicle was towed from a designated parking area only to be told that the authorities did not make those markings. When I inquired why the authorities did not remove these illegal marks the clerk could not give me a favourable answer. So we armed ourselves with the relevant documents and $3,500 and trekked in the broiling midday sun to the KSAC office.
I again expressed my displeasure, this time to a courteous and professional woman who told me that the authorities did not mark those places and when asked why they weren't doing anything other than towing away unsuspecting persons' vehicles I was told to put it in writing.
Now the KSAC knows about these illegally-marked parking spaces. Why isn't anything been done about them? Is it because they generate huge funds daily?
On our way back all the "marked" spaces were filled. To be towed away? KSAC do your job, don't just tow away law-abiding citizens' vehicles for exorbitant fees when you can prevent some of the illegal parkings.
We are already in a vise. Don't make the grip tighter!
I am, etc.,
ADINA MARIE SERGEANT (MRS.)
Greater Portmore
