Disabled driver fumes at accusation

OUTRAGED: Kim Davies with the two different parking permits and the note left on her car. PHOTO/LYNDAFERINGA

Disabled Masterton woman Kim Davies was outraged to find a note stuck to her car accusing her of parking in a disability car park without a permit, even though she had one displayed in the correct place on her windscreen.

Ms Davies thinks the note writer, who wrote "where is your card?" and a wheelchair symbol, did not recognise her new green mobility parking permit. The new cards are phasing out the old, bold orange ones.

Ms Davies found the note after visiting The Warehouse on Monday.

"I was p**** off," she said.

Both coloured permits are in circulation as some people have old ones not due to expire until 2016.

"Some people may not know about the new design."

Ms Davies, who has two forms of arthritis, says she prefers the orange permits because they stand-out and are not "flimsy" like the new ones.

Ms Davies says she often gets "looks" when her car is in mobility car parks because her disabilities are not always obvious.

"Some days you can be stiff as a board and the next day you can be jolly, singing and dancing."

Ms Davies remembers a time when she was with her son in the KFC car park and a woman said under her breath "they don't look disabled".

She has also experienced multiple incidents at the WINZ office building, the most notable being when a security guard said to her son: "your mum's using this park illegally and she shouldn't park there".

Ms Davies filed a complaint and the security company called to apologise.

Ms Davies says "if you want my disability you're welcome to have it".

"The public need to be aware that there are two cards in circulation."