Thursday, June 19, 2008
A strong deterrent for illegally parking in spaces in Hutt City displaying a Mobility Parking Permit will be introduced from 26 June.
The parking infringement for parking in a mobility car-park without a permit has been $40 for some years. But, as from 26th June, this fine will increase to $150, following to a change in Land Transport (Offences and Penalties) Amendment regulations.
HCC Manager Parking Services, Bryan Crewe, says the government is sending a strong signal it no longer tolerates misuse of public mobility parking spaces, and is expecting local authorities, such as Hutt City, to enforce it.
"Illegal parking in disability spaces is a national epidemic. It takes up a huge amount of our parking team's time and energy to enforce. Access to their mobility parking is crucial for permit holders. They rely on these parking spaces, so they can use the limited physical mobility they have," Bryan Crewe says.
Research by CCS Disability Action has shown that half of all vehicles parked in a public mobility parking space in New Zealand were doing so illegally.(1)
Bryan Crewe says penalties in New Zealand have been very low by international standards. In New South Wales, drivers are fined up to $545 for illegally parking in a public mobility space, while in Britain fines are worth as much as $3,000.
For further information contact
Bryan Crewe ‘ ph 5706752
(1) http://www.ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz/Support/MobilityParking/tabid/75/Default.aspx#Changes