The Local Enforcement System (LES) Joint Committee Group G, from the Zejtun Tribunal, yesterday protested against what it said was the arbitrary and unacceptable withdrawal by the Petitions Board of a valid and correct contravention. In a statement, the committee explained that the case concerned a contravention of the no-entry sign in Arcade Street, Paola, by a vehicle belonging to the Public Broadcasting Services.

It was explained in the petition that the driver was facing the sun when he entered the street and so he had to lower his sun visor. By doing so, he could not see the No Entry Sign which had been installed higher than usual.

The petitions board accepted the petition and withdrew the contravention without consulting the secretariat of the concerned tribunal, as established by the current proper procedures.

The committee explained that the no-entry sign was installed by workers of the Signs Cooperative according to current regulations.

“The excuse that the sun was in the driver’s face when he committed the contravention is a frivolous one since the CCTV photo shows the sun to have been at the rear of the vehicle,” it added. Furthermore, the statement said, the petitions board could have easily verified this if the secretariat were consulted.

The joint committee group insists that the case be sent back to the Zejtun tribunal for judgment by the Commissioner for Justice.

Not returning the case for judgment will mean that the petitions board is manifestly discriminating against all citizens, as all citizens should be treated equally before the law, it said.