A non-reply in a reply

Rock^Star SG

Oct 2, 2006
Traffic Police outsourcing is 'fair and transparent'

I REFER to the recent letters on outsourcing of Traffic Police functions, including 'Old hands at driving booked 5 times in month' by Ms Koh Bee Kwang (ST, Sept 23), 'Cops, not wardens, should nab offenders' by Mr Tan Lam Siong (ST, Sept 26), 'Unsuspecting motorist gets ticket in 'ambush' by Mr James Yap Chong Ann (ST, Sept 2 Cool , 'Too many motorists get booked in overkill' by Mr Phillip Lee Fook Seng (ST, Sept 2 Cool and 'Can Traffic Police shed light on outsourcing?' by Mr Roger Tan Chee Beng (ST, Sept 30).

Excellent, they already have a reply on hand and they wait for all similar letters to be published before they do this "non-reply" reply. Reminds me of the "ahhhh yu gen!" in Streetfighter. Rolling Eyes

Parking regulations on public roads must be effectively enforced to enhance road safety and minimise congestion problems. After careful consideration, Traffic Police outsourced enforcement of illegal parking to Cisco in 1999 so its resources can be better focused on enforcement of serious moving offences such as speeding, running red lights and drink driving.

This I agree. Outsourcing allows more manpower to be effectively deployed at the field level. This will save TP a lot of hassle.

Cisco traffic wardens undergo appropriate training before they are deployed at designated areas with high complaints of illegal parking on the road. They are visible in their white uniforms when on duty. A system of checks and balances has been put in place to ensure these traffic wardens conduct their duties in a fair and transparent manner.

Fair.

Cisco and its traffic wardens are not paid according to the number of summonses issued. Cisco is paid according to the value of the contract awarded. Nor is there any requirement for it to meet any quota of summonses. The fines collected go directly into the Government's Consolidated Funds.

I don't think there's a commission sysytem like sales but there is definitely an individual quota. (Otherwise what are they hired for? To eat snake under HDB blocks and occupy the benches with their fat arses?) Contract renewal, imo, is also subjected to the amount of fines colleced. Why would the govt want to renew the contract if insufficient revenue is coming in?

Enforcement of bus lane offences comes under LTA's purview. To facilitate smooth traffic flow in bus lanes during peak hours, LTA has outsourced enforcement to United Premas, whose wardens undergo necessary training for their duties. Bus lane enforcement is required to ensure that buses can better keep to their schedules for the benefit of the many commuters who rely on public transport.

What they mean by facilitate, imo, means more wardens employed by United Premas and therefore making the flow of bus lanes smoother. Which means more fines (and more revenue)? We can't complain right? Cos they make bus lanes smoother what

In the case of Ms Koh and her husband, we urge them to follow the traffic rules when driving.

HAHA poor things. Laughing

We would also like to remind motorists they should abide by all traffic rules and regulations at all times. This will enable all members the motoring public to have a smoother ride on our roads.

Moral of the story is, complain all u want as this LHL govt implores genuine feedback but pls forget about any serious reactions to them.

Audrey Ang
Assistant Director (Media Relations)
Singapore Police Force

Oh this personnel here is a standard reply machine.

LazerLordz SG

One of em' plug-as-you-write- templates. Laughing

Atobe SG

Is it not an absurdity when the CISCO personnel are trained to be Police Constable on tax payers' account, and then transferred to CISCO to serve as 'Contracted Workers' ?

CISCO Constables still carry a valid Police Warrant Card even when working for CISCO, and are authorised to act according to the laws that authorised a Police Constable in executing the Police Duties.

Having spent Taxpayers' Money for training, CISCO have the audacity to charge a contracted sum to perform the tasks on-behalf of the Regular Police Force.

Is our Government trying to move funds like a 'trickster's shell game', or is it another 'clever excuse' for CISCO to be a PROFIT CENTER and not the Police Force ?

If CISCO can perform the job, why not allow any one of the many Private Security Firms to perform the same task ?

At least, the continous loop is broken in that the money does not go from the Right Pocket to the Left Pocket - as the money will go into Private Hands.

ditzy SG

One of my folks works in the civil sector, told me they actually have an officer who pens out the template, and another officer who adds in content to the template to reply letters from the public. Laughing

Rock^Star SG

Yes Ditzy ur right. Absolutely right. Doesn't it get on your nerves? (or mine)

All the govt organisations have standard templates. And we have people who specialise in cut-and-paste everyday taking tax-payers $$.

Wind6 SG

Just another template Laughing