Gippsland › Latest news › Latrobe Local NewsDisabled Parking BaysCity warns on misuse of disabled parking bays Latrobe City Council has issued a warning to motorists illegally parking in bays which are exclusively designated for disability parking and warned that the same restrictions and penalties apply to disability parking spaces located at shopping centres and supermarkets as in the city’s streets.Latrobe City Mayor, Councillor Brendan Jenkins, said a number of complaints had been received that a small minority of people were consistently abusing the restricted parking applying to disabled bays throughout the region, preventing people with genuine disabilities from accessing them. "Some citizens are under a misapprehension that there is no legal status applying to disability parking bays located at shopping centres or in supermarkets. They are wrong! We have instituted agreements with shopping centre and supermarket proprietors at their request, and the same restrictions apply, as do the penalties if they are illegally used," Cr Jenkins said. "Another important compliance factor is that these bays may only be used if the person with the disability gets out of the vehicle themselves. For instance, they may not park in a disabled bay and remain in their vehicle while a member of their family or a friend goes to do some shopping for them. "Disabled parking bays are for the exclusive use of citizens with a ‘blue, category-one disability parking permit’. Disabled drivers or passengers granted these permits have had to meet strict criteria relating to a severe walking disability, which is endorsed by their GP and approved by Council," Cr Jenkins said. "Only people holding these permits, which must be displayed in the parked vehicle at the time, are allowed to use disabled bays. "Strict rules apply to the use and display of these permits. For instance, the permit cannot be transferred or loaned to another person, which means if a vehicle parks in a disabled bay displaying a disabled permit, and is not carrying or picking up the permit holder, there is a breach of the permit, which could result in its forfeiture," Cr Jenkins explained. "This ensures that only people genuinely in need have legitimate access to these disabled bays. "Latrobe City through its Disability Action Plan endeavours to ensure that the needs of all citizens, whatever their level of ability, are met. While disabled parking bays are regularly monitored by our Local Laws officers and the police throughout the year, a special blitz will be made over the next few weeks to ensure the needs of our disabled are not being compromised. "Local Laws officers will be conducting spot-raids on hot-spot areas, and those drivers improperly using disabled bays will face a fine of $100. Council will not accept any excuses and will rigorously prosecute offenders," Cr Jenkins concluded. Information on disabled parking bays and permits is available from any of Latrobe City’s Citizen Service Centres, or from Council’s Local Laws officers, telephone 1300 367 700. Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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