into various stores -- only to find none available.

More than 75 percent of Bermudians abided by the new Corporation of Hamilton rule stating that they must display a voucher before parking in the Hamilton area. And over 10,000 vouchers were sold through yesterday.

One concerned motorist who wanted to buy a voucher said she could not find any.

"What are the traffic people going to do when we are trying to abide by their rules and there aren't any vouchers for us to purchase,'' she asked.

Some store operators became upset because they could not obtain more of the vouchers due to the fact that the Corporation did not anticipate the level of sales over last week and yesterday.

Miss Teresa Santos of Amaral's Fruit and Vegetables said the business ran out of vouchers yesterday morning.

"We sold a lot of them on Saturday,'' she said. "The Corporation ran out, they did not bring in enough. I don't know what we are suppose to do now because the distributors (Pitt and Company) do not have any.'' Manager of Carousel Liquors Mr. Edgar Ward said the distributors ran out and so did his store.

Dollar Savers also ran out over the weekend but were able to obtain more.

Hamilton Pharmacy general manager Mr. Michael DeSousa said: "People are going crazy at this point. We have sold about 200 books between Saturday and today.

"People are realising they need them now so they are trying to get their supply. We have just ordered more books from Pitt and Company. We wanted 200 but they could only give us 100. I think they are really starting to have a problem.'' The International Sports Shop also ran out and was waiting for more to be delivered.

And a spokesperson for Hayward Grocery's said they ran out yesterday morning but received another 20 vouchers.

"Bermudians wait for the day that it comes into effect and then they want to buy them,'' a spokesman said.

The Warwick Shell Station expected a slew of late voucher buyers and "stocked up last week expecting the worst'', an employee said.

However, sales in shops in the western end of the Island and the eastern end area were a little slower with only a handful of people purchasing the vouchers.

Despite the problem with the number of vouchers available, Corporation of Hamilton Secretary Mr. Roger Sherratt said the first day had gone exceptionally well.

"It was so successful that we got rid of the stock that should have lasted two to three months, they sold far better than we anticipated. We did not think they would be sold at so many outlets,'' Mr. Sherratt said.

"The main bulk is on its way, we ordered enough for 12 months.'' Mr. Sherratt also said that whenever a new system starts, it takes time for the public to get used to it.

"We are very happy with the fact that a high percentage of people used the vouchers on the first day. It was about 75 percent or more. The Corporation is very pleased with the response from the public.'' And he added that motorists who were unable to find vouchers were given a warning ticket, not a parking ticket, by traffic wardens.

"By Wednesday at the latest all stores will be well stocked with parking vouchers.

"I received a few comments from people who said it was nice to find a parking place in Hamilton and that the vouchers seemed to help traffic congestion.'' Mr. Sherratt also said commercial vehicles were either being as quick as possible while in a loading zone or when out of the loading zone they were using the vouchers.

He added that a vast majority used the vouchers correctly.

"The only problem reported was that about 12 people filled it in for when they were returning to their vehicles instead of when they left.

Pitt and Company sales representative Mr. Steven Perry said there was a great effort made yesterday to supply all the outlets with vouchers.

"We need a number of weeks to monitor the system. About 10,000 books were sold in less than a fortnight. There has been an extraordinary turnover in the last 10 days,'' Mr. Perry said.

MARK BEFORE YOU PARK -- Corporation of Hamilton alderman Mr. William Frith demonstrates how to fill in new parking vouchers yesterday while his wife Mrs.

Sallie Frith looks on.