Low-life motorists: New crackdown on disabled parking
PARKING in a disabled spot illegally? You’re about to cop more than just a fine. Is the new penalty enough of a deterrent? — VOTE NOW
LOW-LIFE motorists who used disabled car parking spaces will be hit with demerit points as well as a fine, the State Government says.
The news comes after drivers received hundreds of such fines for illegal parking in shopping centres last financial year and as car parks become crowded with pre-Christmas shoppers.
Dignity for Disability MP Kelly Vincent said she was delighted the Government had backed her call for tougher of penalties against “selfish’’ drivers who park illegally in spaces reserved for the disabled.
Ms Vincent said the issue was a “big problem’’ — especially this month, when drivers struggle to find parking spaces during peak periods.
“It’s not just about courtesy that people don’t steal carparks — it is also illegal,’’ Ms Vincent said.
“People might think they are saving a few minutes by parking in a reserved spot but a $349 fine would have a significant impact on their Christmas budget’’.
Ms Vincent believes introducing a demerit point penalty would make many motorists think again about using a car park reserved for the disabled.
Illegal parking in disabled zones has even spawned its own Facebook page — Disability Parking Wall of Shame.
Transport Minister Stephen Mulligan said the Government was “more than happy to support’’ Ms Vincent’s push for a demerit-point penalty.
“I met with Kelly Vincent after she raised the proposal to introduce demerit points for people who illegally park in spaces reserved for people with disabilities,’’ Mr Mullighan said.
“We are currently working through the details of this, including whether the changes are best made through legislation or regulation, and how we can share information between the councils, which are generally responsible for issuing the fines, and the Government, which manages the demerit-point system.”
Earlier this year, NSW introduced a demerit-point penalty for the offence and increased the fine to $531.
Last financial year, Tea Tree Gully Council issued 11,680 fines totalling more than $600,000 for illegal parking in shopping centres, including the Tea Tree Plaza site. This included 313 fines for parking in a disabled spot without a permit.
Marion Council issued more than 4000 fines for illegal parking at the Westfield Marion site alone in the same period, including 31 fines for parking in a disabled spot.
Charles Sturt Council issued 378 fines at the Westfield Westlakes site, 48 for parking in a disabled zone.
The Adelaide City Council has issued more than 379 such fines this year while police fined 58 drivers parking illegally in disabled zones on public roads last financial year.
Ms Vincent said spaces were specifically reserved for those with a disability for good reasons, including safety concerns if people need to unload wheelchairs or mobility frames.
“If there are no reserved spaces for us to park it also effects our ability to interact with the community, because we don’t have an opportunity to go to that venue,’’ she said.
Disabled driver permit holder Terry Burton said he “often can’t get a disabled park” at shopping centres.
“I do see people all year round who park illegally but especially when it’s busy like Christmas holidays,’’ the 66-year-old Ferryden Park resident said.