Transport Department confirms that warnings which threaten motorists with prosecution are not legally binding
The use of no-waiting signs which threaten drivers with prosecution will be reviewed after it was revealed that they were not legally binding.
The Transport Department yesterday confirmed two types of signs - saying 'Waiting in yellow hatched marking area will be prosecuted without warning' and 'Waiting vehicle will be prosecuted' - were only advisories and did not have the legal weight of speed limit signs. There are 570 of the signs in use.
Legislator James To Kun-sun said the signs were misleading and drivers who had been issued with a fixed-penalty ticket for breaching traffic laws at such locations could lodge an appeal.
'The wordings used implied prohibition and restrictions. If the signs are meant to be advisories, the choice of words is foolish,' he said.
Mr To said police could only prosecute drivers if their vehicles caused an obstruction or breached other traffic laws, not because they disobeyed the two advisory signs.