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Editor's Blog Nov 08th 2011

Editor's Blog Nov 08th 2011 - Highway Enforcement.

  The powers are through, or so I’m led to believe, and the Highways Enforcement Agency is now waving powers of ticketing. Not content with trying to stare you down when you drive slowly past, almost daring you to stop and contemplate parking; they now also hover at bus stops and the odd licensed parking permit area.

This morning I saw them walking down Devils Tower Road in twos, as if this part of town is some sort of ghetto; I imagine they walk 4 abreast through Laguna or in the Upper town, maybe tooled up with a space pen and non-slip ink!


 Not content with having the RGP and the GDP, we now have the red trimmed livery of the HEA. Why is it we can always afford government paid gangs to keep us citizens in order but when we want protection from robbery, muggings, pickpockets or just plain drunken abuse, there’s never anyone in sight? With more lawyers per square foot in Gibraltar than America I’m sure we are hot on getting citizens to toe the line, but pretty crap at getting the criminal element to do the same. The HEO’s stand around market place constantly, but fail to appear in Landport ditch too often. I see a policeman, for instance, stopping vehicles during the day driving the wrong way up Fish Market Lane – it has just changed to one way- but this morning at 9am a Spanish car ignored the large sign on the road and drove down there.  Where are all these law enforcers during the hours I want protecting? I mentioned last week about being caught at 8pm cycling down a quiet street, yet 2 days ago 2 people cycled straight down Irish Town, free and easy and, finally this morning it was dodge the vans and cars in casemates. I was whined at by a driver on Main Street the other day for not getting out of the way on a pedestrian right of way! Come on lawmakers and government ‘for the people, by the people’ remember?

 Before you judge my thoughts unjust, think on this; on devils tower road, the new car park where residents with permits can park their vehicles long term is a great idea. Top floor, free for residents and secure. Well long term that is for 2 weeks. The HEA check how long the car has been there and if it hasn’t moved in two weeks... bang! Ticketed. Don’t go on a cruise if you are parked there, will you?

Ed.