Limerick councillor wants to stick it to drivers parking illegally
LIMERICK City and County Council is to consider using more prominent parking stickers for drivers who park their vehicles illegally.
At present, drivers who are not parked in designated spaces face a fine, with a small ticket posted on their window, normally under the windscreen wiper.
But Labour councillor Joe Leddin wants the local authority to go further, and in effect, shame those who park in bus stops, loading bays, footpaths and disabled spaces.
“It's getting worse, and that's the reality now. Great work is being done with the public realm and the pedestrianisation and part-pedestrianisation of streets, but there's not an hour where cars are not parking illegally,” he said at this month's metropolitan meeting.
“The fact we are widening some footpaths mean some motorists think that's a green light to drive up and park the car there.”
In a motion, he called for traffic wardens in the city to introduce stickers on cars parked illegally.
He pointed out that guards at the Crescent Shopping Centre and in a number of other outlets in Limerick do this already.
“I think it's a huge visual deterrant if you see cars being labelled in this way. We all know it's extremely difficult to have them removed from the car,” he said.
The motion was seconded by his party colleague, Cllr Conor Sheehan.
But in a written response, senior executive engineer Liam Browne, said there is no legal basis for wardens to affix stickers to vehicles, and these wouldn't be allowed under the provisions of the Litter Pollutions Act.
He added: “The traffic section will examine the use of adhesive holders for parking notices for use in limited circumstances. These would be larger and more noticeble then the notice itself.”