'Cheapskate' motorists? No, dumb writer

In today's Straits Times Forum:

"THE public carpark behind Far East Shopping Centre is popular because it provides cheaper parking for the Orchard Road area. Unfortunately, there are motorists who exploit this by waiting for their friends or family members in their cars, without displaying carpark coupons.

I had an unpleasant experience there on Monday about 11.30am while trying to find a parking space. The driver of a Mercedes-Benz was reading newspapers at the wheel, without coupons being displayed on the dashboard.

I approached her to check if she intended to park her car. She said she was waiting for her daughter but did not intend to use a parking coupon.

That driver was not alone. Other motorists were also occupying parking spaces without paying for them.

The carpark was full and there were many motorists queuing for parking spaces.

How does the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) deal with such motorists who prevent others from legitimate use of parking spaces?"

Jeyarani Anita Henry (Ms)

Is there anything wrong with someone parking their car in a parking slot while sitting inside the car at the same time? So what does the writer want?

1) To ban people from remaining in their cars when they park their car in a public car park?

2) Force them to put coupons even though they are sitting inside?

Does it mean that if the driver waits inside the car but also displays a parking coupon, the writer will be satisfied?  The driver wastes one parking coupon, the writer still does not get a slot. So who wins? The government, of course. The revenue of one parking coupon is earned for nothing.