THE Traffic Police have resumed their drive to remove illegally parked vehicles from sidewalks and along streets in communities and across the Corporate Area.

“Owners of vehicles [including] large and heavy duty buses and trucks that park on sidewalks and along the roadways will be our target group over the next few days,” head of the traffic department, Radcliff Lewis warned last week.

The police said that under the Road and Traffic Act, illegal parking was a breach which could attract hefty fines, and result in confiscation of vehicles.

Section 54 the Act states:

(1) Rules may be made by the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation or a Parish Council, at the request of the Island Traffic Authority, prohibiting, restricting or regulating the parking of motor vehicles on road, street or public place and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, such rules may, subject to approval by the minister responsible for local government, provide for the imposition of charges in respect of vehicles left in any such road, street or public place…

The ACT further states that:

A person who, being the driver of a vehicle, leaves the vehicle in a parking place designated by rules under section 54 . shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction there of to a penalty.

Last week, the traffic police told the Sunday Observer that they had been receiving frequent reports from pedestrians who have complained bitterly that they were unable to use some designated sidewalks because of vehicles being parked illegally.

The police also said they had received reports that criminals were “hiding out” in parked vehicles to better carry out their illegal activities in communities .

“All of this is something we will be moving to address, and the police will be leaving no stones unturned,” said Lewis.