86-year-old fined over disability permit

Anna van den Bogaart believes she should have got a warning instead of a $150 fine. Photo / Greg Bowker

An 86-year-old woman has been fined $150 for parking in a mobility space with an expired permit - and officials are refusing to waive the fee.

Anna van den Bogaart, who walks with a mobility frame, parked in the mobility space at the Papakura shopping centre on May 4 and displayed her permit clearly.

The grandmother of 14 said she needed mobility parking because of the operations she had undergone: "Two new knee caps, two new hips, four stents in my veins, a pacemaker, and a new valve in my heart."

But she was shocked to find a $150 fine when she returned from shopping with her husband.

She wrote a letter of complaint to Auckland Transport but has learned her permit expired in March 2009.

Mobility parking permits are normally issued for five years, and Mrs van den Bogaart thought a new one had been posted to her in 2009.

"My other card was sent to me, without ordering it. So I never thought I had to look at it."

She cannot remember paying for a permit or any paper work for one, but says that's not surprising at her age.

"I can't remember, it's too long ago. I'm 86, I'm in the age of forgetfulness."

Auckland Transport spokeswoman Sharon Hunter said while Mrs van den Bogaart's situation was unfortunate, the fine could not be waived.

"We can really sympathise and empathise, but it had expired. And those are the regulations.

"But we note her age, and would like to help her get her sticker up to date. It's a bit concerning seeing 2009, because if she keeps driving with that, it will happen again."

Ms Hunter said mobility permits did get used by people who weren't entitled to them, and parking wardens had to check their validity.

Permits are issued by CSS Disability Action. Sara Georgeson, the mobility parking permit scheme project manager, said although elderly people did occasionally unintentionally use expired permits, it was not a widespread problem.

She said renewal notices were posted out when permits were about to expire, but people often forgot to notify CSS when they moved addresses.

However, Mrs van den Bogaart said she had lived in her Papakura home since 1960.

She believes a $150 fine - instead of a warning - is harsh, and has labelled it "money gathering".

"It's not right. I didn't know it. If I'd done it on purpose, it's a different thing. We live on the pension. I still need [the permit]. I can't do without."