Police probe man who parked in yellow box

[Ginchiyo Tachibana]

Police probe man who parked in yellow box

By Valerie Koh

The New Paper
Friday, May 25, 2012

Police said they are investigating the driver who allegedly obstructed traffic outside Raffles Girls' Primary School (RGPS) last Thursday by parking in a yellow box.

Last Tuesday, The New Paper reported that two drivers got into a disagreement outside the school at Hillcrest Road, off Dunearn Road, in Bukit Timah.

Mr Jerry Gee, 48, the owner of a silver BMW, had parked in a yellow box along the road and blocked another driver, Ms Julyn Kang, 37.

Motorists are not allowed to stop inside a yellow box and obstruct other vehicles, except if they are turning, as the yellow box is meant to improve traffic flow at road junctions, states the Land Transport Authority's One Motoring website.

"The traffic police will not hesitate to take action against motorists who disregard traffic rules," the police said.

"We urge all road users to obey and observe all traffic regulations in order to make the roads safer for all."

When contacted on Tuesday night, Mr Gee, who is self-employed, said that he had not been informed by the police of the impending investigation.

But should they approach him, he would be "happy to cooperate with them", he said.

The father of 11-year-old twin girls who study at RGPS maintained that he was not in the wrong.

"I didn't threaten her. We just spoke to each other," he said.

"This is a very small matter. I've got the money to pay the fine. Anything wrong with that?"

"It doesn't mean that I have a lot of money. It could also be that I have (just enough) for the fine."

On the other hand, Ms Kang, a part-time lecturer, said she had no intention of getting Mr Gee in trouble.

"I was most disgusted with his attitude," said the mother of a seven-year-old girl who attends RGPS.

She was dropping off her daughter at the time.

It irked her that Mr Gee felt that "money could buy his way", she said.

On learning that the police had begun investigations, Ms Kang replied: "I'm sure he's prepared for it. If only that would prevent him (from repeating the act)."

The traffic warden outside the school said she, too, was approached by the police.

The woman, who wanted to be known only as Wendy, said she was approached by a police officer while directing traffic outside the school at about 12.50pm on Tuesday.

Wendy, 36, who has worked as a traffic warden for the past eight years, said the road is always crowded with cars.

"It's good that the traffic police are looking into the matter. I hope that it'll deter other drivers from obstructing the traffic," she said.


The police also said they would be engaging the school to advise parents to observe traffic regulations at all times.


This article was first published in The New Paper.