Cabarete to install parking meters

[gmalet]

What a joke!! Whos paying the tickets????

Cabarete to install parking meters
At a meeting attended by representatives of the business community and the Mayor of Cabarete (Mr Eddy Morfe), it was decided that Cabarete would install parking meters in the near future. All through traffic has to travel through Cabarete's main road, and parked cars cause considerable traffic holdups every day. Vehicles are parked on both sides of the road, although parking is only allowed on the beach side. The traffic chaos gets really out of hand on Sundays and public holidays. According to a representative of the hotel and restaurant owners in the town, led by Peter Orr, long-term parking can be discouraged by installing parking meters. Motorists would have sufficient time to do their shopping, but would not be allowed to park there the entire day.
The notables of Cabarete
This idea was immediately supported by the Mayor, who sees the parking meters as a good way of collecting funds.

[whatever]

This is a good idea if they use the money to build a parking lot.

[WickedWillie]

The week before Semana Santa they introduced "no parking" on Cabarete high street. Both sides. Day and Night. No signs. No warning. No nothing.

The police were calling the 'junta' officals via radio who then issued computerised tickets. (Targetting gringos of course) RD$300 fine if you pay the same day. RD$500 if you pay the next day and incremental charges for each day unpaid. And you got towed away after 3 hours.

The system for the tickets contained all the vehicle details and I was told that any unpaid fines would be levied next time the vehicle gets it's marbete (annual registration)

Apparently this new no parking town law was passed last Sept but they decided to enforce it 4 days before Semana Santa.

2 days later signs appeared everywhere explaining that Cabarete main street is now a no parking area with details of the 5 new parking areas throughout the town at a cost of RD$25 per hour.

Of course this whole scenario caused many heated situations especially when Cabarete was inundated with SD and Santiago Dominicans over the holiday weekend.

A few days after Semana Santa the rules appear to be a little more relaxed in that in typical Dominican style enforcement is lax.

An upshot all this is that there is now a "hulega" (strike or riot) planned for next week to protest the 'Junta' and their methods.

Should be fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TropicBob]

What a joke!! Whos paying the tickets????

Cabarete to install parking meters
At a meeting attended by representatives of the business community and the Mayor of Cabarete (Mr Eddy Morfe), it was decided that Cabarete would install parking meters in the near future. All through traffic has to travel through Cabarete's main road, and parked cars cause considerable traffic holdups every day. Vehicles are parked on both sides of the road, although parking is only allowed on the beach side. The traffic chaos gets really out of hand on Sundays and public holidays. According to a representative of the hotel and restaurant owners in the town, led by Peter Orr, long-term parking can be discouraged by installing parking meters. Motorists would have sufficient time to do their shopping, but would not be allowed to park there the entire day.
The notables of Cabarete
This idea was immediately supported by the Mayor, who sees the parking meters as a good way of collecting funds.

This kills it for me going to Cabrette....spend 30 mins trying to find a place to park, then HAVING TO PAY FOR THE FUCKING SPACE! No thanks, I'll walk down to Herman's on Sousa Beach, anytime.

[yayow]

The system for the tickets contained all the vehicle details and I was told that any unpaid fines would be levied next time the vehicle gets it's marbete (annual registration)

This sucks, I want to see how this plays out with the rental cars. Most guys (tourists) will get a ticket and just throw it away, and if enough does this when they go to register the rental cars all these unpaid tickets, will pop up along with the excessive fines, should be interesting.

I must admit I received one ticket down there while I was on vacation, about 3 or 4 yrs ago for not wearing a seatbelt. I couldn't believe he gave it to me, I think they wanted a bribe which I refused to do, so I got the ticket. I tell everyone that I just took it home and wiped my ass with it. I knew nothing would come from it, what were they going to do suspend my license in NY. I don't think so.

But this new procedure could have consequences for the owners of these rentals, or maybe even for the tourist if they somehow computerize the records and one day you park the rental on the street, and when you come out the rental has been towed because a bunch of tickets from somebody else from months earlier all of a sudden pops up.

[Kevy]

I imagine if you pay for your rental with a credit card, they will charge you later for the ticket. More fun:)

[yayow]

I never rented from the airports, I always rented from the places in town and never gave my card, payed cash, although they would have a copy of my passport.

Would be interesting if they tried to retroactively charge you, those Dominican rental offices in Sosua didn't look like they had the best book keeping skills. I could easily seeing them charging the wrong guy.

[trEPP33]

Remember this is all new to them. I'm sure they will come up with some means of protecting themselves especially if they get caught holding the bag a few times.

[Si_Poppi]

This kills it for me going to Cabrette....spend 30 mins trying to find a place to park, then HAVING TO PAY FOR THE FUCKING SPACE! No thanks, I'll walk down to Herman's on Sousa Beach, anytime.There are times when the town is dead quiet and you can't even find a spot.
Maybe now it will be easier to find a spot.
I'd rather pay a few pesos and get a spot quickly.