Business community calls for parking meters after delivery man and tow truck worker brawl

Members of the downtown Kingston business community are calling for the implementation of high-tech parking meters in the congested district.

The calls come on the heels of a delivery man suffering bruises to the face and neck in a fight with tow truck workers in the area on July 1.

 According to the police, the delivery man had parked along a yellow line – no parking zone - on Ocean Boulevard, to make a quick delivery. Upon making his delivery and arriving back at his car, a heated argument developed between the man and workers on the tow truck, as they attempted to clamp his car. The dispute escalated into a physical altercation.

 The fight caught the attention of a passing MOCA police squad who quickly broke up the fight.

 Alleged eyewitnesses and onlookers, told Loop News that the man had made the delivery and was almost back at his car when the tow truck arrived.

 “All me see is when the three man dem jump off the truck, one with a machete, and di man dem start to fight, same time the police dem a pass,” said the alleged eyewitness.

 “It is time for KSAC to install some meters on the street or something in the area so people can park and conduct their business in peace. The tow truck people a try do them job and so was the man- a something him did a deliver,” added the man.

 One member of the business community noted that the delivery man often made deliveries to his establishment and others in the district.

  The businessman further added that, in the downtown core, motorists continue to seek parking, and the streets become clogged with drivers circling around for a spot.

 “The street is clogged for a variety of reasons, one of which is reasonable, people who work in the downtown core and the other reason the abundance of street side car washes- which is rather unreasonable, the problem needs to be addressed that those needing to use the parking can do so hassle free, paying a meter or something, “said the man.

 “The government needs to create an environment that makes compliance system easy and effective, and puts people into the formal economy and parking meters are one way. It eliminates the need to pay a man on the road,” he added.