Disability advocates back $750 fine for those abusing mobility car parks

Barbara Barwick displays her mobility card while parked in one of the disability car parks outside Gisborne District Council. Motorists who abuse the blue-coloured disability car parks are liable to be issued an increased fine of $750, effective from Tuesday. Photo / Wynsley Wrigley

Drivers described by the Government as “arrogant” face a 500% increase of the fine for parking in disability car parks from Tuesday - and the Gisborne disability community is “absolutely thrilled”.

The fine has jumped from $150 to $750.

Disability advocate Karen Tait has heard of people complaining about the huge increase during a cost of living crisis, but she remains unimpressed.

“They don’t have to park there.

“It won’t be a hassle to people if they don’t park in a disability car park.”

Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the increased fine will level the playing field for disabled people by helping prevent unnecessary disruptions in their day-to-day lives.

“Parking in an area reserved for disabled people is the epitome of arrogance,” Upston said.

“We need to get tough on this selfish behaviour, and that is why we are taking action.”

Regulated fees for towage and impoundment have also been increased.

Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the increased fine would level the playing field for disabled people by helping prevent unnecessary disruptions in their day-to-day lives. Photo / Wynsley Wrigley

Barbara Barwick, who uses a mobility parking permit, says disability parks were constantly and regularly abused.

She was aware of the impending $750 fine.

“I’m thrilled, I’m absolutely thrilled.”

Barwick said she had on occasion had the courage to challenge people who were abusing the disability parks.

“They say, ‘I’m only going to be there for a minute’.

“That could mean someone with a disability park permit not being able to park.”

Once, after providing vehicle details, she received an apology via a phone call after a Gisborne District Council contractor used a disability car park.

The driver, when initially approached, had been “quite grumpy”.

Barwick said a range of people used the disability car parks.

“People seem to think it’s just for us oldies - but it’s not.”

Other users could include parents with young children in wheelchairs or young adults who had been seriously injured.

Tait, the Tairāwhiti-Hawke’s Bay local advisory chairwoman for CCS Disability Action, said the new fines were overdue.

“It’s about time they acknowledged people with disabilities and the struggles we have.

“The new fines were really good.

“We just hope it deters offenders.”

A Gisborne District Council spokeswoman said council was expected to enforce the new infringement penalties from October 1.

There are 28 disability parks in the CBD monitored by the council.

In the last financial year, ended June 30, in terms of infringements for warrant of fitness, registration and parking offences, council issued 8464 infringements, to a value of $466,916.

The figure relates to what the infringements amounted to and not the total amount of infringements paid.

Supermarket car parks are private property and the responsibility of monitoring these parks rests with the supermarkets, said the spokeswoman.

A spokesperson for Woolworths NZ (which includes Countdown) said the company had over 185 stores in a variety of locations, including free-standing stores “where we control the carpark”.

“If an unauthorised vehicle is parked in a mobility park, one of our team will often make an in-store announcement asking the vehicle owner to remove the vehicle.

“Further intervention is considered in the context of the potential reaction of the owner, as there have been instances where intervention has resulted in aggression towards our team.

“Unauthorised vehicles may be issued a breach notice but are not towed, nor clamped.

“We recognise the importance of mobility parks for our community and would ask anyone who notices an unauthorised vehicle in a mobility park to let our team in store know.”

Transport Minister Simeon Brown said parking infringement fees had not been updated in two decades.

Regulated fees for towage and impoundment had not been updated since at least 2004 and were no longer covering operators’ costs.

“The Government has agreed to an inflation-based increase to the fees, to come into effect from October 1.

“The changes will ensure that the value of penalty infringements is inflation-adjusted to support local councils with enforcement, something councils have been calling for,” Brown said.