Perth Voice Interactive

PEOPLE who park in bays reserved for motorists with disabilities should be fined up to $3000 says Stirling city councillor Samantha Jenkinson.

Cr Jenkinson is pleased the Barnett government is raising penalties for illegally parking in an ACROD bay but says the fines should be higher.

“People do not realise the disruption they cause with this selfish act,” says Cr Jenkinson, who’s used a wheelchair since suffering paraplegia at 19 in a car accident.

“It could mean missing a doctor’s appointment or some other important meeting with a specialist.”

Under the government’s changes, the maximum penalty imposed by a court doubles from $1000 to $2000. On-the-spot fines more than double, from $140 to $300.

Wall of shame

Illegal parking in ACROD bays is so bad an “Australian disabled parking wall of shame” Facebook page has been created, displaying photos of cars illegally parked in the distinctive blue-painted bays. Examples of illegal use include police vehicles and a rubbish skip.

National Disability Services state manager Terry Simpson wants on-the-spot fines increased to $500.

“I think that having rangers patrolling carparks more often and a higher fine will deter drivers,” he says.

Enforcing

“Part of the problem is that we are reliant on the public and shopkeepers to phone up the council and inform them someone is parked illegally in a disabled bay. We need better ways of enforcing the rules and punishing these selfish drivers.”

NDS says there are 13,679 ACROD permit holders in the municipality and Stirling council says there are 360 ACROD bays in council-managed carparks. Last financial year it received just 17 complaints specifically related to illegal ACROD parking.

The council voted to write to the WA government to request a $3000 maximum penalty.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK