Parking inspectors have issued 579 infringements pertaining to misused disability parking permits.
People are reminded not to park in disabled parking spots and not to use disability parking permits if they are not the permit holder after Access Canberra handed out over 500 infringements this year for using lost, stolen or invalid disability parking permits.
Since the beginning of the year to 15 June, parking inspectors have issued 579 infringements to drivers using lost, stolen or invalid disability parking permits, including 272 infringements occurring between 15 February to 15 March.
Parking Operations and Traffic Camera Compliance director Chris Seddon said Access Canberra’s technology now allows parking inspectors to interrogate data while on patrol and check for the use of invalid disability permits or those that have been reported lost or stolen.
Mr Seddon has reminded ACT drivers that disability parking permit holders must be travelling in the vehicle in order to use the permit and it is an offence for any other person to display and use the permit if the permit holder is not travelling in the vehicle.
“This is good news for those genuinely seeking a disabled car park who often find car spaces occupied by illegally parked vehicles,” Mr Seddon said. “Most of the fraudulent use is due to people, other than the permit holder, using the permit when the permit holder is not in the vehicle.
“For example, if a driver drops off a permit holder in say Woden, the driver is not entitled to use the permit in Civic without the permit holder being with them. It is also illegal to use the permit of a person who has passed away.”
A vehicle parked in a disabled car bay with a lost, stolen, expired or deceased person’s permit incurs a $600 fine, while a vehicle displaying a lost, stolen, expired or deceased person’s permit in timed or pay parking bay cops a $120 fine.
Mr Seddon said he wants to remind the public that disability parking permits are issued to the person with the disability, not the vehicle.
“If permit holders report a parking permit as lost and then find it later, they should hand in the lost permit at an Access Canberra Service Centre because anyone found displaying a lost permit will be issued with a parking fine,” Mr Seddon said.
“It’s recommended that when permit holders are not travelling in a vehicle, they keep their disability parking permits with them to avoid possible misuse. Permit holders play an important part in ensuring we have fair and equitable parking arrangements for all.”
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