GEORGE NEWS - A George resident was confused and furious after she received a hefty fine when she stopped at a stop sign in the street where she lives. Monija Kessler was served a stiff traffic fine of R1 500 after exiting her driveway in Watts Avenue.

"The traffic signs and road markings outside my home in Watts Avenue contradict each other. I feel it is a travesty of justice that I must go to court to prove my innocence," she said. On Tuesday 4 July she exited her driveway and drove in an easterly direction to the stop street, where she stopped - and was given a R1 500 traffic fine. Although the street had recently been changed to a one-way, the road markings are still for two-way traffic, which is confusing with a stop street at either side. "I haven't broken the rules of the road, what is the problem?" said Kessler.

Responding to her complaint, George Civil Engineering Acting Director Lionel Daniëls said, "Watts Avenue has two parts, with the section joining Nelson Mandela Boulevard being a two-way, but the part joining Mitchell Street, which is too narrow to accommodate two-way traffic, being a one-way. While that section was always a one-way street, some drivers illegally used it as a two-way. At a certain stage our operational team incorrectly turned Watts Avenue into a two-way, but the Civil Engineering Department was informed of the error by one of the residents and it was corrected immediately."

Daniëls said Kessler can remedy her situation. "If the complainant was fined during the time that the error occurred on our side, she must please make representation to the traffic court on the first floor (front entrance of the George Civic Centre) in York Street and fill in the applicable form. The municipal prosecutor will then decide on further action."

Kessler received this good news with relief.

ARTICLE: BRÜMILDA SWARTBOOI

'We bring you the latest George, Garden Route news'