By Alesha Capone
BRIMBANK City Council caught more than 1000 drivers illegally parking in disabled spots this financial year.
Between 1 July 2009, and 30 June 2010, the council issued 1180 fines to motorists for parking in bays designated for people with disabled parking permits.
Brimbank City Council’s general manager of city development Stephen Sully said there were about 5000 people with “legitimate disabled parking permits in Brimbank”.
“Legitimate users of disabled parking spaces can be considerably inconvenienced when the available parking spaces are reduced,” he said.
Peter Thomson, from disAbility Connections (formerly the Western Region Disability Network), said he was delighted Brimbank was third highest on a list of areas in Victoria where motorists were penalised for flouting disability parking laws.
Melbourne City Council issued more than 2000 fines, while Port Phillip came in second on 1183.
“It’d make me happy if it was the highest, but it’s a start,” Mr Thomson said.
“The more people who get booked the better, as far as I’m concerned.
“It’s a common thing, a number of people I speak to notice it happening too.”
Mr Thomson said has called police after being verbally and physically threatened for politely pointing out to other motorists they were parked in disabled spots, without a permit.
“Obviously, they stop somebody who needs to park there from parking,” he said.
Mr Thomson said people with crutches, walking frames and wheelchairs needed to be able to open their car doors all the way to get out.
He said disabled parking spots, which are wider than ordinary ones, allowed people to do this unlike the narrower, normal parking bays.
“It can make the difference as to whether you go in and shop or not,” he said.
Mr Thomson said he would like penalties for parking illegally in disabled spots to be raised, to deter people from committing the crime.
