Thanks to dash cams and mobile recordings, we were able to see some of the crazy and peculiar habits of users on the road. But one particular (and most of the times questionable) action that irks us motorist is turning up to an unoccupied parking space only to find someone standing there to “cop” (reserve) the empty spot, waiting for their friend, father, mother, grandmother to turn up from Narnia.
You may think “how can he/she do that, the car is not even here!” but more often than not we move away to avoid causing a scene (read: running them over). What can we, as fellow road users do when facing these kinds of bullies? Well, Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) has come out to clarify that it is illegal for unauthorised personnel (that means you, auntie), to “cop” a parking spot and divert traffic away from the empty space:
Under Section 50(3) of the Road Transport Act 1987, “Unlawful interference and importuning”: “If any person, otherwise than with lawful authority, remains on any road or at any parking place for the purpose of importuning any other person in respect of the watching or cleaning of a motor vehicle, or for the purpose of directing any driver of a motor vehicle in respect of parking on such road or at such place, he shall be guilty of an offence.”
If found guilty, the offender can be fined up to RM2,000 or face a maximum six months jail term. So the next time you’re making rounds for a parking spot, be sure to have your car ready with you.
