NewsWhore
02-05-2009, 02:30 PM
While many are saying that the parking meters are unconstitutional and demand that the city end the contract to regulate their use, others defend them as a solution to the city-center parking problem.
Journalists, lawyers and people from other towns who visit the city on a daily basis complain of the fines that are imposed when the meter runs out if they do not top it up in time.
On the other hand, traders and business-owners in the center city praise the meters. And so, two years since their start-up, 85% of people who were questioned about their use approve of the parking meters installed by Blue Parking Caribbean, according to a report in Hoy.
Francisco Rodriguez, operations director of Blue Parking Caribbean, says that many fines are erased when it has been determined that they may have been unfairly imposed.
On the issue of safety for citizens of Santiago, the company says that they have installed security cameras throughout the city center area, and these are constantly monitored, and this in turn has reduced crime in the area. Irritation with the meters has been mostly felt by residents who are unhappy with having meters in front of their houses, making social calls uncomfortable in this laid back city. Others complain of the RD$300 peso fines for overstaying a time limit, and the preference granted to taxi parking spaces. Another major complaint is the lack of support in the areas around medical clinics such as Corominas or Bonilla.
PLD councilmember Hipolito Martinez, president of the Committee to Fight Against Parking Meters, says that they will not give up their fight until the mayor suspends the contract and regulates the complaints that are received on a daily basis.
While some people want to know where the money is going, others, such as lawyer Jose Dario Suarez, say that the city council is acting completely legally in contracting for such a service.
The company itself says that it spent RD$40 million and has only collected RD$13 million from the meters so far.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#3)
Journalists, lawyers and people from other towns who visit the city on a daily basis complain of the fines that are imposed when the meter runs out if they do not top it up in time.
On the other hand, traders and business-owners in the center city praise the meters. And so, two years since their start-up, 85% of people who were questioned about their use approve of the parking meters installed by Blue Parking Caribbean, according to a report in Hoy.
Francisco Rodriguez, operations director of Blue Parking Caribbean, says that many fines are erased when it has been determined that they may have been unfairly imposed.
On the issue of safety for citizens of Santiago, the company says that they have installed security cameras throughout the city center area, and these are constantly monitored, and this in turn has reduced crime in the area. Irritation with the meters has been mostly felt by residents who are unhappy with having meters in front of their houses, making social calls uncomfortable in this laid back city. Others complain of the RD$300 peso fines for overstaying a time limit, and the preference granted to taxi parking spaces. Another major complaint is the lack of support in the areas around medical clinics such as Corominas or Bonilla.
PLD councilmember Hipolito Martinez, president of the Committee to Fight Against Parking Meters, says that they will not give up their fight until the mayor suspends the contract and regulates the complaints that are received on a daily basis.
While some people want to know where the money is going, others, such as lawyer Jose Dario Suarez, say that the city council is acting completely legally in contracting for such a service.
The company itself says that it spent RD$40 million and has only collected RD$13 million from the meters so far.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#3)