How do we avoid a fine? - Update (2)

The following article was published in the Malay Mail on June 7, 2007. It refers to my letter and meeting.

USE LOCAL COINS
By Khairun Nizam Ab Ghani

FAKE coins, paper, foreign coins, pieces of wood as well as pieces of iron.
These are among the items found in parking meters in Kuala Lumpur, resulting in losses to IIUM Holdings Sdn Bhd, the com- pany given the job to manage parking space by City Hall, and Syarikan Kejuruteraan Elektrik Suria, the maintenance company appointed by IIUM Holdings.

Yesterday, The Malay Mail was given an insight on the acts of vandalism and its extent by representatives from City Hall and the two companies.

This was a follow-up to a letter from Praveen Rajan to New Straits Times on Tuesday, who wrote that he was issued a compound for parking in a lot that had a faulty meter.

Parking manager Raymond Sim, of IIUM Holdings, said inevitably there would be parking meters damaged every day as a result of vandalism .

“Even though technicians repair the damaged meters everyday in the morning, it is common to find them vandalised the next day,” he said.

“Luckily, the parking meters are manufactured with high security features, with rechargeable batteries that can be used for five years, ” he added.

IIUM Holdings took over the parking concession from Seripati (M) Sdn Bhd on May 1.

Engineer K. Subramaniam of Syarikat Kejuruteraan Elektrik Suria said when vandalised, or when vandals insert materials other than local coins, the meters become faulty.

He also said the meters are meant to take only local coins, but there are numerous cases of foreign and fake coins being in- serted by motorists who wanted to get some ‘free’ parking time.

But as the meters are not be able to trace foreign and fake coins, no parking time will be displayed.

“Our technicians do maintenance rounds everyday from 8am until 6pm to repair the faulty meters, ” he said.

“But sometimes motorists do not know how to use the meters properly even though they function. They insert coins at quick intervals without allowing the meter to read them.

“Subsequently the meter doesn’t register any coins.” City Hall director-general Datuk Salleh Yusof also admitted the widespread vandalism against parking meters in the city.

“We have asked the operator to frequently monitor the meters to check for vandalism.

“We want the operator to put up a notice on the damaged meters so that the public are aware of them,” he added.

On the complaint by Praveen, he said it would consider the complainant’s case and ask him to appeal at City Hall. If there is evidence to proof that the motorist is right, then City Hall would either reduce the fine or nullify it.

Subramaniam also said he could help motorists who had been wrongly issued with fines by the City Hall provided they have genuine evidence to support their claims.

When met yesterday, Praveen said he was happy with the assurance given by Syarikat Kejuruteraan Elektrik Suria to help him with the summons.

“I’ve already given Subramaniam the summons letter and he will help solve the problem with City Hall,” he said.

“Now, I understand how the meters work. I hope the public will know how to use them properly, ” he added.

Click on the image below to view a full screenshot of the article as published on Malay Mail's website:


My thoughts:

• The burden of proof remains on the motorists -- having to call, and provide evidence is time consuming.
• There's a high percentage of fake coins in circulation, and this could be in the hands of the general public. Fake coins tend to show differing metal qualities which will fail when used with parking meters such as those deployed in Brickfields. These meters contain a magnetic sensor that measures the magnetic ratio of the coins. Any ratio that falls beyond the boundaries of an authentic coin will fail.

Related links:

• How do we avoid a fine? - Update (1)
• How do we avoid a fine?
• Faulty parking meter & my letter to the Mayor