December 15, 2011 - Unionville, ON With all the talk about Markham's Parking Authority and their harassment of Markham residents being talked about in the news lately, it is surprising that the Parking Authority has stooped to a lower level today. It is questionable if the town actually favours parking dollars over the safety of children. Today at 3pm I witnessed the Parking "Officer" block off the driveway so that parents would not be allowed to drive through and pick up their children. Furthermore, a second officer patrolled the street on foot with his hand held printer threatening to ticket parents that stopped in front of the school. When confronted about this ridiculously blatant cash grab, the officer on foot stated that the first officer had called him as back up to assist with "enforcement". The first officer, still on a high from his new found power trip as he blocked the " "fire route" which he felt needed to be secured, threatened to ticket those that stopped to ask what he was doing. The confusion created by the Town Of Markham's parking authority along with the newly opened South Unionville Avenue put the children of Unionville Meadows at risk as they crossed the street in the rain to try and get into their parents cars while dodging cars trying to flee the terrorists bearing tickets. As a parent, I am disgusted and furious. It is the York Region Board of Education's responsibility to ensure the safety of my children until I pick them up after school. The teachers of Unionville Meadows do an admirable job getting kids safely into their parents' cars after school and keep the flow of traffic moving through the driveway. For the Parking Authority to jeopardize the safety of children so that a few of their employees can hit quota before Christmas is ludicrous. The Board should step in and stop this craziness. To the town Councillors, I raise the question "when does the safety of someone else's child take the back seat to generating cash flow?". The obvious answer is "Today" and it better have been the LAST time this happens. At some point, common sense should dictate how and when the enforcement of by-laws is conducted. Unfortunately, when easy money is involved, it seems common sense is thrown out the window.
Posted via email from Markham Real Estate Today with Asif Khan
If you drive by there in the morning drop off time or afternoon pick up regardless rain or shine there will be lots of cars there parking on both sides of the road and trying to get into the school "fire route" to pick their kids up. Did you not noticed or too blind to see that there are MANY people who drive down that street and walking across "dodging" traffic and cars blocking the road while trying to get into the school. The parents are irresponsible and have lack of respect of the parking rules that are in place.
ReplyDeleteRules are there to protect the wellness and safety of the public. Do you ever go over the speed limit? Then you shouldn't criticise how officers operate because you broke the law yourself, just because you have not been stopped or caught yet.
I don't disagree that parking tickets is another way to make money. BUT have you ever stop to think. If there are no rules to parking at all will you not complain? It's the quality of the ticket NOT the quantity. If it is a concern of health and safety then why shouldn't you receive a ticket? Will you be responsible for any accidents of others if you are the one who caused any delay of our emergency services or causing an accident because you were parked there because of your own selfish convince.
I've received parking tickets before, so what? Be an adult and take up the reasonability of your actions and pay for it. Because you may not get tagged before that doesn't mean you are right. Parking matter is not a game it is a safety issue. And if you are responsible you will park your car far away from "no parking area" and walk to pick up your kids. Then you can free up the flow of traffic.
Mr. KHAN with you driving and taking photographs at the same time you are in violation of the highway traffic act "distracted driving" and the fine is $155 with possible demerit points! Also you probably stopped your car in the middle of the road causing a traffic jam. How are you any safer than the ones parking on the road blocking traffic and fire routes?