Fed up disabled motorists want a Government and Garda crackdown to tell thoughtless drivers to stay out of their car parking bays.
It is against the law to park in a disabled spot and doing so illegally could mean a €225 fine.
It is also an offence to misuse a disabled parking badge, which risks a fine of up to €300, if caught by gardai or a traffic warden.
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Gardai must be given greater powers, so that they can also issue the fines, the Disabled Drivers’ Association of Ireland say.
It is urging the Government to draft new legislation to help Ireland’s 75,000 disabled parking permit holders by cracking down on unscrupulous drivers who park where they want, including in disabled spots.
A spokesperson for the DDAI’s new Bay Watch campaign said: “Gardai and traffic wardens can inspect disabled parking badges, but they do not have the power to issue fines.
“They must be able to issue fines to drivers who illegally park in accessible parking bays in private car parks like shopping centres, educational institutions, hospitals and other spaces.”
The problem exists because only public car parks are covered by existing legislation.
A system of parking fees, restrictions, fines and clamping is in place in towns and cities in Ireland to prevent and stop illegal parking.
Areas’ local authorities are responsible for creating bye-laws and gardai and traffic wardens are responsible for enforcing them.
Fines for illegally parking in a disabled parking space increased in 2018 from €80 to €150, rising to €225 if not paid within 28 days.
Since January 1, misusing a disabled parking badge costs €200, or €300 if not paid within 28 days.
Richard Ryder of DDAI said: “It is an anomaly in the current legislation that those who park illegally in accessible bays in private carparks are allowed to get away with it.
“It should not be left solely to the private car park owners to manage the problem.”
Research by DDAI found that 74% of people noticed disabled parking bays being abused by non-badge holding drivers on a regular basis and that 70% of the public supports a call for Garda-issued fines and also for a prosecution case against illegal parkers.
Richard added: “Some 96% of our members want more action in tackling disabled parking bay abuse.” Protests were held across the country over the last year in areas such as Cavan, Cork, Limerick, and Waterford, with hundreds of the country’s 75,000 disabled motorists telling able-bodied drivers to ditch their “back in five” excuses.
They said parking in an accessible space even for “just five minutes” can have far reaching consequences for a person with a disability.
Richard Ryder said yesterday: “They just can’t park in wheelchair accessible parking spots. Ever. Never.”
The Irish Wheelchair Association added: “The availability of wheelchair-accessible parking spaces is an essential lifeline for motorists with disabilities.”
Two disabled drivers, Aisling Grouden and Sean O’Kelly, yesterday said “effective enforcement” is needed urgently. DDAI member Aisling, from Dunshaughlin in Co Meath, has been driving since she was 21 to college, her job, grocery shopping and needs it for her independence.
She said: “If there was someone parked in a bay without a permit, I would go in and report it to the shop.
“I’d rarely approach another driver on my own for safety reasons.
“One time, I did go up to a woman myself and all she said was that she was still going to park there.”
Aisling added: “I think it would make a huge difference to people’s willingness to chance parking in accessible parking bays in these places without a permit if they came out and found a €150 fine on their windscreen.”
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