A crackdown by Willoughby City Council has uncovered rising misuse of disability parking permits and zones, including two motorists found using their dead family member’s permits, as people return to workplaces following COVID-19.
Willoughby City Mayor Tanya Taylor warned that motorists who breached disability parking laws were acting irresponsibly and faced on-the-spot fines of up to $706.
Ms Taylor urged motorists to obey these laws, to allow people with a genuine disability to be able to access the parking areas they needed and in doing this create a more inclusive city.
During May, 10 motorists received a $706 fine for using a Mobility Parking Scheme permit contrary to the conditions of use in suburbs including Naremburn, St Leonards and Chatswood. These motorists were not disabled and were typically using a permit which had been allocated to another person or organisation.
In one brazen case, a female motorist was fined for using the permit of her deceased 93-year-old mother to justify parking in a disability zone. Another motorist was fined for using the permit of a deceased person on May 17 at Artarmon.
Both permits were taken from the offenders.
Separately, also during May, some 99 motorists were fined for illegally parking in parking spaces set aside for people with a Mobility Parking Scheme permit. These people received $587 fines.
“The Mobility Parking Scheme has been designed to assist more vulnerable members of our community, and it’s disappointing to see these offenders attempt to fraudulently take advantage of the system,” Mayor Taylor said.
“Unfortunately, we are starting to see more inconsiderate motorists flouting disability parking laws, as they return to physical workplaces following COVID-19.”
Mayor Taylor said creating a more inclusive community was everyone’s responsibility.
“This month we released our draft Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2022-2026 for public exhibition,” she said.
“This is a plan to remove barriers to meaningful employment, provide more equitable access to services and develop more positive community attitudes towards people with disability.
“For us to realise this vision – we need the whole community to get on board and respect the support services in place for people with disability.”
People with Mobility Parking Scheme permits are able to park for longer periods in time-limited on-street spots, to reflect their greater need to access this parking.
Members of the public can report the illegal use of Mobility Parking Scheme permits by phoning 1300 884 899 or completing the NSW Government’s online contact form – https://roads-waterways.transport.nsw.gov.au/contact-us/index.html
Rangers in Willoughby City Council’s Safe City Unit have a wide range of responsibilities including animal control, development site inspections, heavy vehicle inspections, littering enforcement, parking education/enforcement and pollution control.
