MEDIA RELEASE FROM CCS DISABILITY ACTION

Disabled people celebrate as Government raises fine levels for illegally parked vehicles

Recent amendments to Land Transport Rules mean people using mobility parking spaces without displaying a valid CCS Disability Action Mobility Parking Permit will face a $150 penalty, set by the Ministry of Transport.

CCS Disability Action, along with other interested parties, has been working with the Ministry of Transport over the last 15 months to establish new mobility parking rules and increases in fine levels.

Peter Wilson, Mobility Parking Permit Scheme Manager, finds the increase encouraging.

“Mobility parking permit holders rely on these parking spaces to access and contribute to their community.  Hopefully increased fines will mean more permit holders being able to access parking spaces in their communities,” says Peter Wilson.

Research undertaken by CCS Disability Action found that 50% of vehicles using public mobility parking spaces were doing so illegally.

While the legislative change has a huge impact on access to public mobility parking, privately owned car parks and their mobility parking spaces are mostly not affected as they fall under the Building Code.

While the Building Code requires that public building are accessible for disabled people, including providing mobility parking, the monitoring and enforcement of the mobility parks is the responsibility of the property owner.

“It would be great to see private property owners adopting some of the principles in the new legislation and monitoring the use of their mobility parking spaces more closely.  Blocking disabled people from getting on with their business, shopping and leisure activities is still a big problem in New Zealand,” adds Mr. Wilson.

CCS Disability Action is already working with private parking providers across the country and would welcome contact from other property owners to discuss strategies to improve access to mobility parking on their properties too.

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