Cuff Road shop owner places suitcases at store front to prevent illegal parking

Upset over drivers parking illegally outside their business, a shop in Little India has placed suitcases along the store front as deterrence, according to a Facebook post on SGRV Front Man on Monday (Sept 21).

"Shop owners with ingenious idea to stop illegal parking at double yellow lines," the post reads.

In photographs of the store uploaded with the post, at least four lines of luggage can be seen on the road, stretching beyond the pedestrian pathway outside the shop and covering the double yellow line marker.

Traffic cones are also seen near the bags, adding an extra layer of deterrence beyond just the suitcases.

A man, presumably the shop owner, is seen standing in front of his merchandise as he watches the road.

A separate photograph also uploaded with the post shows an example of exactly what the shop owner is dealing with — a car parked along the roadside in front of a different store.

In this photo, suitcases can be seen in the space in front of the car, possibly to dissuade drivers from parking there again.

@asiaone Is lining the street with luggage a clever fix or just another obstruction? What do 🫵 think? #sgnews #Singapore #Road #Safety #Traffic #Parking ♬ original sound - AsiaOne

'Illegally' parked luggage?

Some users sympathised with the shop owner, with one claiming that lorries tend to park there illegally.

"It could be that it's affecting their business," the user said, adding that fines for illegal parking will act as a deterrent.

But some netizens pointed out that the shop owners' action may also be illegal.

By placing luggage on the road, the shop owner may be obstructing traffic, said one.

"LTA (Land Transport Authority) will come with a summons for the shops," another cautioned.

A user also quipped: "It might become illegal 'parking' for the luggage instead."

@asiaone Is lining the street with luggage a clever fix or just another obstruction? What do 🫵 think? #sgnews #Singapore #Road #Safety #Traffic #Parking ♬ original sound - AsiaOne

According to LTA, it is an offence to park on double yellow lines and first-time offenders will be fined $70 for light vehicles and $100 for heavy ones. Repeat offenders will be fined $110 or $150 respectively.

Under the Street Works Act, creating an obstruction or inconvenience of passage on a public street can result in a fine of up to $2,000 with a further fine of $100 per day the offence continues.

AsiaOne has contacted the shop owner for more information.

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khooyihang@asiaone.com