Singapore – It seems that the practice of placing tissue packets on tables to reserve a seat has gone a step further. Videos and photos are being uploaded on different social media sites of people using their bodies to “chope” a parking slot. (“Chope” is a popularly used colloquial term to indicate booking or claiming something.)
On May 15 (Wednesday), ROADS.sg uploaded onto their Facebook page a video of a woman who defiantly reserved a parking slot for her family along Tyrwhitt Road near Lavender Street by standing on it.
The driver who captured the footage with her car camera tried to honk at the woman because the slot was clearly hers and asked, “Who the hell is this?” Meanwhile, the ‘auntie’ who had “chope” the spot maintained her defiant pose with her hands on her hips as she waited for the driver of the white Honda Shuttle to exit the vehicle.
ROADS.sg asked the public if the action was an acceptable practice, and what can camera footage do to help in this scenario?
The caption read:
Questions for all drivers out there.
1) Is this an acceptable practice, “chope” car lots?
2) What can car cameras do in this instance?
“Is this trending in Singapore? Idiotic woman thinks she is not at fault. The driver of SLB9518L should be ashamed of himself.” – LC
The incident took place at Tyrwhitt Road, near Lavender Street.
Video submitted by LC
Woman stands in parking lot to reserve parking lot.
Questions for all drivers out there.1) Is this an acceptable practice, chope car lots?2) What can camera car do in this instance?"Is this trending in Singapore? Idiotic woman thinks she is not at fault. The driver of SLB9518L should be ashamed of himself." – LCThe incident took place at Tyrwhitt Road, near Lavender Street.Video submitted by LC
Posted by ROADS.sg on Wednesday, 15 May 2019
Netizens were quick to comment on the legal implications of the driver and ‘auntie’s’ actions as well as the proper etiquette expected of motorists.
A Top Fan noted that both the woman and the driver were at fault and mentioned a portion of the Road Traffic Act wherein “No person shall cause or permit a motor vehicle, other than a road roller or other road plant while engaged in the construction, maintenance or repair of roads, to travel backwards for a greater distance or time than may be requisite for the safety or reasonable convenience of the occupants of that vehicle or of other traffic on the road.”
Four days later, All Singapore Stuff Facebook page uploaded another incident. “Another couple trying to “chope'” (sic) parking lot either with their bodies or with that plastic sheet,” said the caption.
Another couple trying to chope parking lot either with their bodies or with that plastic sheet
Posted by All Singapore Stuff on Sunday, 19 May 2019
Mahboob Ali commented that a carpark is on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Dee Mel suggested to chope by lying down instead.
Maybe if a cuter approach were taken like the one below, people wouldn’t be as annoyed?
I hope the cat knows that it’s against the law to ‘chup’ parking like this.
Posted by SAYS on Tuesday, 21 August 2018
According to an LTA representative, “Under Section 32A of the Street Works Act, the LTA is empowered to enforce against any person(s) for placing articles or things on public streets and five-footways, which may cause obstruction and/or inconvenience to the passage of the public.”
They are looking into the possibilities of addressing the situation.