The National Traffic Police detained 35 vehicles in August 2013 because they were parked on zebra crossings.
The National Traffic Police Commander, Chief Inspector Antonio L.C. Soares said the traffic law banned drivers from stopping randomly on zebra crossings.
He said from the 35 vehicles, 10 were cars and 25 were motorbikes.
“We carried out an operation at the sign near the Hidayat shop, in front of the Government Palace and the Ministry of Finance, then we seized the vehicles and asked them to pay a fine,” Commander Soares said in Kaikoli, Dili.
Apart from giving the fines, he said the traffic police also gave civic education, so drivers could increase their knowledge and they would know not to park cars or motorbikes on a zebra crossing.
“Some don’t really know and some don’t have the consciousness. Sometimes those who don’t think about this have their vehicles seized twice,” said the Commander.
According to him, when drivers park on zebra crossings it can have an impact on pedestrians crossing the road.
In another place, Member of Parliament Mateus de Jesus said the police had a responsibility to take action because this shows lawless behaviour.
“If it’s like that, pedestrians will not use zebra crossings and this can be a threat to people’s lives,” said MP de Jesus.
On the other hand, member of the community Antonio da Costa said sometimes drivers went straight through zebra crossings, so it was necessary to give them education.
