'Thanks Herald' - gran's fine waived

Anna van den Bogaart's plight got a strong reaction from readers. Photo / Greg Bowker

An 86-year-old woman does not have to pay a $150 fine for parking in a mobility space with an expired permit, when authorities relented after a public outcry.

Anna van den Bogaart, who walks with a mobility frame, did not realise her permit had expired.

Auckland Transport refused to waive the fine but its position changed after Mrs van den Bogaart's story appeared in yesterday's Herald.

Spokeswoman Sharon Hunter said she had received phone calls and emails from outraged readers, and the backdown reflected that "life isn't black and white".

The authority would waive the fine in return for her updating her mobility sticker - "which we will help her do".

"We're also going to be talking to the mobility providers and we're going to be investigating how it can be made a little bit easier for people in that position."

Ms Hunter said $150 was a lot of money for a pensioner like Mrs van den Bogaart: "The law's the law, but hey, we're not that hideous and mean-hearted".

Mrs van den Bogaart was "thrilled" when informed yesterday.

"They must have felt they did a bad deed, because they got a bad name for doing a thing like that."

The grandmother of 14 said she had received phone calls from strangers offering to pay the fine, but had refused as there were people more in need than her.

"I'm glad you put it in [the Herald], thank you very much. I'm surprised."

She had recently received a letter from the Child Fund charity and would now donate some money to them, "in thanks, given that I don't have to pay the ticket".

More than 30 people contacted the Herald to express their disgust.

Cambridge retiree Michael Randall, 79, offered to pay her fine if the authorities didn't back down and believed there was "no feeling any more for people".

Craig Stanton organised a whip around to pay for the fine through the social network Twitter, and another reader said she would contribute $10 despite having a tight budget as a student.

Cecilie Palmer said she had a mobility permit and authorities should target deliberate misuse rather than someone like Mrs van den Bogaart.

"Tell the council to go and fine those who have no right to park in disability spaces, who are just too darned lazy to walk. For those of us who can't walk, give us a break."