It is most definitely a Singaporean thing to call our car park attendants and traffic wardens “Fatimah”. We are not too sure how it started too, but the term has been around for as long as we know it, and everyone sticks to it conveniently – and affectionately.
But is everyone really “affectionate” towards them? Not really. If any, almost no one likes them. In case you haven’t realised the importance of their existence, “Fatimah” is an enforcement officer and he/she plays a major role in enforcing road safety. When everyone is cursing them every time they receive a ticket, have you ever considered the fact that without them, we would be facing chaotic traffic conditions and messy parking on a daily basis? Anyone can park right at the foot of your house, and even if you have designated season lots, non-residents can park all the same and leave you lot-less.
Let’s face it – when they issue a ticket, they are but doing their jobs. And it is a very thankless job that no one shows appreciation. We all want clear roads and our parking rights, but we need to remember who are the heroes who make this happen.
We followed the enforcement officers for half a morning to have a better understanding of how they carry out their duties. Boy, was it a lot of walking under the sweltering heat!
Today, we learn about the different kinds of enforcement officers and their respective roles, the common offences and offences you never knew about, their routines and daily challenges, and to debunk the common myth that they have “quotas” to hit for commission.
Here are the things that you never knew about traffic/parking enforcement officers.
THEY DO NOT GET ANY COMMISSION FOR ISSUING SUMMONS
First up – yes, none of them get any commission from issuing a ticket, so we should all change our thinking and stop convincing ourselves that they are out to get us because if any, the only remuneration they get is a basic salary.
ONE OF THE LOWEST PAID WORKERS IN SINGAPORE
And they are among the lowest paid workers in Singapore. On an average, they get a basic pay of S$900, with a 6-day work week and a daily 12-hour shift. To earn more, they have to do overtime.
As enforcement officers are not categorized as security officers, they may not be covered under NTUC’s Progressive Wage Model, which will see their security peers earn 30% more when their basic monthly salary jumps from $800 to $1,100 on 1 September 2016.
NTUC’s Zainal Sapari asked the government to consider engaging their employers to adopt a Progressive Wage Model so enforcement officers will be paid according to their skills, productivity and career. We hope it will not take years before this is being implemented.
THEY HAVE TO CHANGE TO CIVILIAN’S CLOTHES JUST TO BUY FOOD
The sheer amount of walking and exposure to the various weather elements is terribly physically-taxing. They only get a 15-minute break with every hour of walking, and you know what makes this worse? That they have to change to civilian’s clothes to buy a cup of coffee or lunch, because everyone detests them and they are very often denied by hawkers. We felt so sorry for them upon hearing about this.
THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT KINDS OF ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
There are three kinds of officers – the Traffic Enforcement Officers who ensure road safety, the Parking Enforcement Officer for those who do not pay for their parking, and the second kind of Parking Enforcement Officer from LTA/ URA/ HDB who ensures season parking and reserved lots are not abused. All in all, there are a total of 700 of them in Singapore.
THERE IS NO FIXED ROUTE NOR ROUTINE FOR THEIR PATROL
Each of them is usually assigned to an area where they would do their patrolling, but there is no fixed route nor routine for them to follow. They conduct their checks at random, so if you are thinking of beating the system by memorising their patterns, you can abort the idea now.
ONCE THEY ISSUE THE TICKET, IT IS IRREVERSIBLE. DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME TRYING TO ARGUE YOUR WAY OUT
The issuing of the ticket is irreversible. We lost count of the number of times we see offenders trying to argue their ways out, coming up with all sorts of excuses and some even shouting at the top of their voices – but at the end of the day, they fail to remember that if they had not commit the mistake in the first place, they would not be summoned. Moreover, the officers are just carrying out their duties, and there is absolutely nothing personal. It is most truly pointless to argue nor to get angry at them.
TRAINING FOR TRAFFIC/PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
To be qualified as an enforcement officer, they have to go through a week of training on how to operate the hand-held device, as well as interpersonal skills on how to handle the members of public should they turn rowdy and violent. There are also annual customer service trainings on how to tackle the unreasonable lot.
THE MOST COMMON OFFENCES (AND EXCUSES)
As overrated as it may sound, expired coupons is really the most common. People either conveniently “forgot” about the time their coupons cover them until, or they are just trying their luck.
Tampering of coupons are pretty common too. Think you can reuse your coupons until pandas go extinct? Think again – the enforcement officers are well-trained and their bionic eyes can tell in one glance whether your coupon is tampered with or not. And the fine can buy you a stack of coupons that could well last you a month, or more. We’d say stick with being honest.
Parking at season lots can warrant a fine too, and remember Confucius’ saying “Don’t do unto others what you don’t want others to do unto you”? Think about how you would feel if you come home one day to find that all your reserved lots are no longer specially reserved for you and that these people got away from parking at your lot.
Parking by roads with double yellow lines is also among the most common offences, as with 6m within a junction. No letting passengers alight at zebra crossing, too!
And by the way, if you think you are smart enough to think of excuses like needing to let an elderly alight or your kids are having the runs, they are excuses that these officers hear of on a daily basis. And no, they still won’t work.
THE TRAFFIC/PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS CAN STILL ISSUE A FINE EVEN IF YOU ARE IN THE CAR
Do you also know that even by being in the car physically, the enforcement officer has every right to still issue a fine?
THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FACED BY ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
Rowdy and violent public. Need we say more?
Such a thankless job, indeed. We implore one and all to be more giving towards this lot of people, because like all of you are, they are but earning an honest living.
This message is part of a ladyironchef x Labour Movement project where we seek to share with you insights on the different initiatives by the Labour Movement to give workers in Singapore better jobs, better pay and better work-life balance.
I believe we call them “minah” instead. Not Fatimah.
Nope, we call them fatimah. Sheesh
what a blatantly 1 sided article.
Did you write this to help them garner sympathy?
Did you really expect anyone to actually care for these “people” further than just “fatimah”
I personally could care less what their names are or if they have to endure the hot sun
or change clothes just to buy food.
I wish they all just found other more meaningful jobs that actually contribute to society.
I dont buy your BS about them playing a “major role in in enforcing road safety”
Much of what they do is irrelevant and is considered a nuisance to almost everybody.
To all you fatimas out there, if your job is so tough, please, look for another job.
Nobody likes you or what you do. I dare say even the road sweepers or the people who help
clean the HDB blocks everyday get better treatment from the public.
Lol at ignorant ivan..
Guess somebody has a grudge against enforcement officers. Blatantly break traffic rules ay? I for one have sympathy for them. But some do pose a question of logic. You all did watch the video of an officer who took pics of drivers driving in the bus lane where there was an accident in the MIDDLE of the road, right?
To IAN:
I think this article is sensible and logical. It represents one perspective, and the writer does not owe it to anyone to represent the other perspectives out there.
On a personal note, I think the wardens have it tough and they are doing a wonderful job! if i had my way, they should be plain clothes so that offenders do not go scampering to their cars to tear coupons when the warden arrives.
In my humble view, if you choose to take the risk not to pay parking or park illegally… i guess you have to man up to the ticket slip if and when it lands under your wipers!
@IAN, forgive me for jumping to conclusions but I presume you work in a cool office environment with a comfortable pay that’s backed by good education, but is just pissed to have to fork out for fines (probably paid by daddy’s money) for offences committed out of ignorance.
I’ll tell you something – I have tried my luck and broken some parking rules many times and have fortunately gotten away scot-free so far, much to my relief. Honestly, if I were to break the rules again and get a ticket for it, I wouldn’t get mad – because my actions are of my own accord!
Your selfish thinking is baffling. You are blatantly being ignorant at these men and women who have to stick to job just to support their family. I don’t think they are well educated enough to job-hop, like the young people these days. Do you REALLY think they would want to stick to a job where they’re verbally abused and have to listen to excuses while donning a uniform under our hot tropical weather, and being paid so little? Get off your comfortable pedestal.
Basic morality towards another human being aside, if you were to break the rules, don’t get pissed when you’re penalised for it! Seriously.
it seem fair that they are doing their job but let me ask regarding all the pic taken was sure in holland village.regarding delivery driver who intend to deliver their goods,where should they unload their goods for delivery?is there no law to sympathy the driver who is also doing their job to deliver good to most of the restaurant.so my question is where can they park their vehicles to do delivery!!!driver salary was also not huge but they also doing their job for the restaurant owner to serve their customer…
IAN,
You are one arrogant fuck. I hope that you will end up in a worst state for mocking at others. Remember, what goes around comes around.
Ian,
If you “personally could care less what their names are or if they have to endure the hot sun or change clothes just to buy food”, you wouldn’t be reading this article and then comment on it.
These people are just doing their jobs. Why make it so difficult for them because maybe some day, someone is going to make your job difficult for you.
Honestly, if you can afford a car, you can afford to pay your coupons.
Most drivers (let me be conservative here instead of saying all drivers) have violated parking offences in one way or another. I am no exception. The reason is simple! Not that we are defiant and refuse to comply to parking regulations but SG really have too limited parking lots especially at the popular places or even in HDB estate. At times, it just doesn’t make sense to park miles away to run a 5-10 minutes errant and unfortunately, this is when these parking enforcement officers ghostly appear.
I had a couple of close shaves with them either the LTA ones or those who dress casually in their white polo tees nowadays. In these close encounters, I normally approach them apologetically with the understanding that they have a task to fulfil. It’s true that once the summon is issued, it is irreversible and we have to count ourselves unlucky. My first brush was with a young officer who issued a summon seconds before I reached my car. When I attempt to explain my plight, he spoke to me in a firm yet defensive tone to make an appeal. He was like trying to tell me, “don’t make my life difficult. This is part of my job.” Understandably, I didn’t pester him further since the summon was already issued.
Just only hours ago, I encountered another 50 plus year-old male malay officer. He was keying in data into his hand-held device when I approached my vehicle. Trust me at the location where I was deemed to park illegally (I was in an open car-park with no properly structured lots), there were many other vehicles that parked their car in their own manner. The carpark does run with electronic gantry system. This has been happening in that carpark for years and I have not even seen a single parking enforcement officer before. Quite shocked at the sight of him. When I approach him, he immediately turned confrontational and asked me if I even cleared my theory test. His tone was rather arrogant and belitting. He repeated his questions a few times like he was chiding his own children for a grievous mistake. That was when I turned hostile and started to “talk back”. My stand was if you have decided to issue a summon, carry on! There is no need to be so insulting and be doubtful about my driving background. That was only when he melted down aliitle and let me go.
Honestly, I am a driver who follows traffic rules most of the time. Here is just an example of an unlucky moment. If some of these officers doesn’t even know how to speak in the right way, this is when they get themselves into needless fierce arguments. Though I didn’t raise to the top of my voice, I did show my displeasure. He might not be so lucky if it was someone else with an extreme attitude.
Just some thoughts -
(1) when you say their “basic pay” is $900 – what else are they awarded apart from basic pay?
(2) $900 pay for 12 hours a day, 6 days a week sounds very much like a possible infringement of the Employment Act unless MOM has granted an exemption, or they the officers signed their rights away.
#justthinkingoutloud
Yes they are having a tough time and doing a tough job. Having said that I feel that they are mindless drones.carrying out the senseless and unethical views of the authorities. Most of them are malaysian and are just here to make a living. 900sgd is more than 2.3k in their land. By doing the shit that they do? overpaid i suppose.
its total bullshit. even before the great flood of foreign influx of enforcement officers and the senseless summons. Singapore’s traffic system was even better and less congested. They could do something more.meaningful to society by.opting for jobs that truly serves singaporeans.
I have driven for more than 20 years and have NEVER – not even once – gotten a ticket for traffic or parking.
I make it a point to observe all laws because they are there to ensure roads are clear for everybody.
I actually feel there is a lack of enforcement – for illegal parking especially. I live near Joo Chiat and the number of TOTALLY SELFISH drivers along that road and vicinity is enormous.
I have sent many pictures to LTA but don’t know whether they follow up.
I don’t understand why a developed country like ours has so many underdeveloped mindsets.
Fatimah, not all of us hate you. I admire what you are doing. Don’t let the selfish self-centered idiots get you down.
ian- u’re s jackass. U think the road belongs to u?
Anyway for pple who illegal park…fret not cctv’s hv taken some of the job away from the wardens. Good luck.
If u cannot afford to pay $2 or .50 cents to park.. U dun deserve to drive or ride.
And for prayer times.. It’s all fair across the religions. There is no understanding unless your church, mosque or temple apply w lta a ptp.
All this will cease and they run out of jobs when parking & speeding offences are enforced by gps tracking. No more arguments. By that time, it would be too frustrating to drive that we’d all prefer an computerised driver that’s abiding.
I definitely salute them! Without them, how on hell do we have the peace and order in carparks? Having said that, our country really needs more car park lots to make life easier for drivers and not by imposing fines to deter people from illegal parking only. There must be a reason why some areas there are so many motorists who park illegally. The authorities need to work out something else to solve these problems and not just by using fines to intimidate motorists.
Those law-by-law folks will of course appreciate what they are doing. It at least take some guts to commit traffic/parking offences. I have known of some people who have driven for more than a decade yet never make it out of their comfort vicinity. Some drive on expressways as if they drive on streets too!
lols at all the people who think im pissed because i get summons.
easy assumption to make isnt it?
Sorry to burst your collective bubbles but i have no problems with any summons i receive, as i usually only get 1 a year on average.
I argue that it is you lot who needs to get off your high pedestals and realise that alot of people on the ground simply hate these fatimas.
Im arrogant? nope, merely stating a politically incorrect but nonetheless, widespread view.
I honestly think fatimas should all change jobs so that they get easier lives.
Their jobs naturally incur lots of negative reactions. its part and parcel of their roles, So IF they dont like it. please just go and do something else. like be building security guards instead.
No need to have 1 sided articles to garner sympathy for them.
and finally
@jason , and you’re just a foul mouthed imbecile who cant get your point across (if any) without swearing. i hope you crash your car.
Hmm .. Keyboard warrior with brains but no common sense.
Imagine they declare one day without traffic enforcement, it will affect all lives of us living. Be it driving, riding, public transport, walking.
Catch people using bus lane causing accident? In the first place, why use bus lane?
Do you think Singaporeans will take this job? That’s why employ Malaysians for the shortfall of manpower.
Example:
Electricians are not the best job you think of, rude people, not well educated, dirty or whatever you think negative about them. If your house got blackout due to faulty board that you need to replace. You fix it yourself?
That’s why please use commonsense before commenting negative feedback about them.
fark your close minded mindset christopher. I am a skilled tradesman by profession too. And yes, I even fix my own plumbing at home. It is people like you that looks down on jobs that singaporeans should be proud of.
Had several encounters with them when my company clients come collect their stuff and get summon for taking a few files for stopping at double yellow line at a rather empty road behind my office which probably took just a few minutes. Worst still, there was once my client has already explained to the lta f(ellow) hes jus taking some stuff, and when my client turned his back to face me to take his stuff, the f start taking pictures. Mindless officers as someone already mentioned is not what we need.
Qn: Do you think if these 900 dollar per month officers don’t work for Lta/hdb/and whatever orgn, our gvt related agencies cannot affored to hire more local people at a decent pay say 2k per month to do the job??? Doesn’t matter how much they are paid, their pay doesn’t define how they should behave. We need more sympathetic officers who focus on more important tasks. Not spamming summons at delivery man unloadimg a cart of eggs to the foodcourt.
Full of Shit article…
“As enforcement officers are not categorized as security officers, they may not be covered under NTUC’s Progressive Wage Model, which will see their security peers earn 30% more when their basic monthly salary jumps from $800 to $1,100 on 1 September 2016.”
If they were to get a pay adjustment from $900 to $1,100, more summon will need to be issued, the money will have to come from somewhere and we know where and that definitely not from the government, the people will have to pay for it.. The government will only use it as an excuses to collect more revenue from this increment, so please don’t increase their salary. $900 is a lot of money for just walking around and not doing anything productive for the people.
@IAN
As you felt that writer is one-sided, so are you. You simply HATES the wardens for their jobs cause of all the summons and stuff that happened in SG or to you. But I can somewhat understand.
I’ve broken laws various times – Littering, parking, etc and come to notice, sometimes singapore government or system can be really rigid and real stupid. Example – I left my tissue on the seat when i got up to dump my rubbish in a bin after my meal. A NEA officer came to me and issued a fine stating I littered – a tissue on the seat. When I tried to explain the situation, he didnt even bother to listen. Like honestly, he saw me walking to the bin to throw my stuff, cant he just give me a reminder or warning for forgetting the tissue? This is what i called rigid, too square to a fault.
The issue is not with the officers, summons or their life, etc. I think its with the timing. Timing on the occassion of us getting fined for something so minor that it can be excuse with a simple warning. Simply we find it unjustified while some serious offenders got off the hook or the officers didnt managed to catch them.
@Osman and Christopher
While it is true that alot of people look down on odd jobs like security officers, sweepers, etc, alot of us still gives them the respect they deserved. But mindset of singaporean has to change. If not, we will eventually become a very arrogant society with people only viewing “collar” jobs in air conditioned office as the only respectable jobs. I think alot of taxi drivers, carpenters, tilers, etc earns more than those in office. ^^
Just my 2cents
Kudos
I’m in if there’s any rallying call to improve the lot of the working man/woman
I’ve seen with my own eye how unreasonable these wardens can be.
it was 10:12am and the parking coupon was torn for 10:15am. and the warden issued a ticket!
Dear Sir/Madam my opinion differs from your. My wife was waiting next to the car at Waterloo Street last week. A Cisco mobile officer came by, took the photo of our vehicle and proceed to issue a summon. When question as to why the summon was issued. His reply was that my wife was playing with her mobile. What has it got to do with waiting being allowed with straight double yellow lines. Hence it will vary from person to person. In addition there are a number of vehicles stopped along the same street in front and behind our car but no action was taken or summons issue. This case I have brought to the attention of both Cisco and LTA. Now awaiting for their reply on this issue.
I’m gonna apply for a sabbatical to do this! Nothing beats getting into their shoes. Fatimahs, here i come!????
I loved this, wish there were some references to some of the figures and statements but otherwise great. It was such a heartening read that reflects the goodness in people.
LTA traffic warden is good in enforcing. I have worked for 6 months but I making myself confortable with multi religious people in singapore.
Majority of these LTA enforcement officer are Malaysia Indian. Who is over zealous with their work and carry out the enforcement like a vengeance or vendetta towards the Singaporean motorist. They must understand our culture and empathise at time. Like a Chinese wake, Muslim Friday prayer, Saturday or Sunday church service. They must not be like the terminator robot. Behaving arrogant and rude. Yes they are doing their job to keep our road clear of congestion but do it with a human touch.
Those parking attendance at my multi storey carpark, i appreciate your work. Without you guys, my season parking lots will not be reserved because of all this assholes drivers who does not respect the law. Kudos to you guys.
“This message is part of a ladyironchef x Labour Movement project where we seek to share with you insights on the different initiatives by the Labour Movement to give workers in Singapore better jobs, better pay and better work-life balance.”
Dear author,
In compliments to the industry which gives you such beautiful food photos, will you write an article regarding locals working in the FnB industry? Definitely one of the least appreciated and respected jobs around. Not forgetting a very low basic salary for a very demanding job scope filled with unreal working hours and shifts. Of course work life balance is hardly possible too because most FnB establishments make the most out of weekends and PHs.
Just saying.
To all those parking attendants haters, publicly you tells us so much about yourself – just simply ignorant and inconsiderate.. Nothing to fine if you’re abiding traffic rules isnt it? Otherwise I would recommend you to retake your basic theory.
I also; encounter a such summon. It’s OK that they are doing their job. We also have jobs to do.. take for; instance, along shipyard crescent and shipyard road.. There are no car park lot available. So where to park?? and on the article, if inside car also can summon?? Where got fair.. Since driver inside car, he is just waiting not parking.. If he is causing congestion then he should move off.. Since they did not have quota or get commission? Where do all the summons go to?? Build road?? Singapore roroads still full of potholes.. I do work this job before.. everyday we have a number of summons to reach. Then end yr we get performance bonus.. nobody will declare this as it is their rice bowl. ?
I doubt your salary claims at $900, 6 day work week, 12 hour workday. MOM has strict rules about maximum work hours at 44/week and any above that is considered OT. This info may be long outdated
Got summon twice by same officer, 15 mins apart. Meaning that fag summon me once. Waited another 15min and issued a second summon. You telling me they have no agenda in issuing more tickets? Nevermind that. Lets for a moment assume they really dont have an agenda in doing so. Common sense would tell you a single ticket would suffice but to hang around for 15mins just to issue a second ticket? One has to wonder if this people has any brains. Deliberate? Abuse of authority?
To those who complained about “Fatimah”. If they do not exist and many started to violate the traffic rules {by parking at the road side) which hinder you way, I guess you all will be complaining where are all the “Fatimah” and if there should be more of them to summon those traffic rules violator.
@Kim Peng “I have sent many pictures to LTA but don’t know whether they follow up.”
Think it is your dream and passion to be Fatimah. Keep it up there!
@Kim Peng if u sent a photo to [email protected] they will auto send u an acknowledgement. Later they will send u a simple 1 page report form for u to fill in date/time etc. After processing they will send u an email informing u the case has been processed. Important: your photo must show the car plate and offences (eg.Double Yellow Line) and it must be submitted within 30 days of the offence. If car is using illegal license plate or the window film is illegally tinted, highly it in the form too. Lta will follow up on that too.
My personal encounter. Indeed they are still showing humanity when issuing the summons ticket. I met with an accident and my bike was at the car park without SPT with some reasons. They did shown their kindness for not issuing everyday. Yes, they may have name called upon them. But, simply it their duty for issuing parking offense. Face it and appeal if necessary. As it also a concern that they needed to report if the vehicle is stole or unauthorized. Let’s us play a part by complying the regulations and not arguing the facts when we are caught.
IAN, I copy you. Too many hypocrites here.
And all that BS about ‘if one day there are no fatimahs’ crap. Hell will not break loose. We break the rules so once in awhile – but we are no absolute criminals. Most of us, I believe do have common sense.
What I am asking for is moderation. We give and take. The fatimahs have been so ridiculously rampant these days, I can’t help but feel – the mothership is all for profiteering.
Get a better job, get a life – and yeah you guys get off your hypocritical high pedestals.
Kim Peng: I think the world will be happier without u living on Earth. No wonder they said Singaporeans are busybody, kapo, nothing better to do. I feel u should just go do some charity work or spend some times if u think u are so free as to send photos to LTA.. If u asked me I respect road sweepers, those that clear our rubbish everyday, those that build our homes but not these summons fatimah or whatever u called it..
Kim Peng, if all drivers were like you, driving in Singapore will be pleasant.
All these idiots complaining about parking attendants, will also complain about the speed limit.
50km/h in a school zone is too slow – must increase to 70 km/h. Oh and must allow parents to park or even double park along road, leading to schools to pick up their babies.
I am sure IAN will agree with me that the speed limit of 90 km/h on expressways is too slow and it is a waste of money installing cameras to catch speeders. That money can go to extending the lanes instead.
That Ian must be one of those that think switching on the hazard lights means can stop and park anywhere. Kim Peng, I hate driving to Joo Chiat, especially near the schools during dropping off /picking up periods.
I, myself, was fined twice. Once, I was going to be late for exams, so parked at double yellow lines and got a $50 ticket, but to me, it was totally worth it. Another was totally forgotten to put the coupons and remember only after the movie and got $30 ticket lol. Do I blame the wardens? No, because it was my fault in the first place. The laws are there before I was even born, so why blame the wardens? It is like criminals blaming the police for catching them.
Next time, I will buy kopi for Fatimah.
From a distance away… I witnessed an LTA officer got splashed with a packet of what seems to be laksa. The people around the area exploded into a standing ovation.
They are dogs employed by LTA to suck road users money. I’m a delivery driver and sometimes there are situations where unloading or loading heavy and bulky goods become very taxing work. Problems like searching for proper parking lot, availability of flat ground for trolley access, distance from parking to point of reception, space for moving the goods from vehicle, and etc. Searching for parking lot is very time consuming for delivery driver and time to me is critical. My job is high physical and mental demand. Not only I’ve to plan my routes, time, avoid lunch hours, look out for traffic, search for places while driving, and even look out for these people who are aiming at my vehicle. People who sit in aircon room wearing neat and tidy would not understand how hard driving job is. Delivery drivers have to withstand hot and wet weather, dealing with weight and fork out our salary to pay fines or even get points deducted and bear the risk of loosing rice bow. And delivery drivers job contributes to part of economic progress that you could imagine. And yet so call illegal parking offences takes away our hard earned money. If you think that Singapore roads and pavements are so well developed then you are wrong. Try imagine that you’re wheelchair bonded whenever you leave your cozy office building and out on the road. You could encounter situations similar to person pushing trolley. But of cause if you’re a handicapped, you have least worry finding a parking lot enforced to reserve for you. I hope there are loading unloading lots be enforced to reserve for delivery vehicles only too. But most often then not I see cars and taxis misusing the lots. And where are those money suckers when we need them most? Let’s bring our attention back on the road. What nature of a parking offence is it compare to express way plants maintenance, religious goers parking basically everywhere (you know what I mean), or even traffic warrens themselves parking on double yellow lines to take pictures! Talking about rest time, I can’t rest for every 1 hour that I’ve worked. I’ve to rush to finnish my lunch with my sweat soaked outfit. How about nature’s call? I’ve got a huge metal blocked of van to account for. And make a guess what salary I’m paid? Not $900 of cause, but bear in mind that I pay my own fines. People might just say change job if you’re not satisfied. So easily said just like those high posting officers imposing rules. Who’s not doing a proper job in this case?
Totally understand that giving parking tickets are part of their jobs BUT that doesn’t mean they have to be so unpleasant and bitter. I worked with a couple of people from LTA before and they had the worst working attitudes. Not only were they arrogant and acting all high and mighty, they had the worst working attitude. One of them came for work an hour late and according to their own self made rules we couldn’t start work without their permission. So we waited an hour for him and when he finally arrived, he was so blaze about everything and still took his own sweet time without giving any reason for his tardiness. I’m not saying all LTA workers are like that, but from the few I have had experiences with, I find them horrible and am disgusted by their attitude
there’s a difference between doing the job yore supposed to do and being an ass.
it’s one thing to fine drivers trying to use the bus lane to get to their destination 3 min faster, but it’s another to attempt to fine a driver being in the bus lane because there’s an accident in the 2nd lane.
there’s a difference between fining a reckless driver, but it’s another to attempt to fine deliverymen (who are also doing their jobs for low pay) for stopping for 15 minutes at a dead end to offload their goods and are not obstructing anybody.
there’s also a difference between projecting LTA presence to prevent drivers from flouting the law, and crouching/hiding behind a power box in order to take pictures.
Fellow Drivers and some non Drivers have written their stand to say how not professional these wardens were but at the other end of people who disagree , all I read is IAN this and IAN that …. IAN may be a cb but cannot denial the fact that he did has some interesting insights .
For me seriously I think these wardens are just mindless foot soldiers being task by the papies to do the dirty job of collecting protection money ….once
Challenged one LTA guy on the core values of LTA and the exprsssion I got back was …. what’s that ? Enforcement officers like the police , need to undergo 6 months of training before being put out into the field and some can fxxk up . What makes you think these amateurs can do better with zero knowledge of law enforcement ?