Police won't tolerate disabled parking cheats

[Max]

Police won't tolerate disabled parking cheats
Zero-tolerance campaign to run for one month


CAL MILLAR
STAFF REPORTER

As police were launching a crackdown on drivers who abuse parking spots for the disabled, three people illegally pulled into handicapped spaces in the same garage where the announcement was being made.

All three vehicles displayed permits issued to other family members.

"It's totally inappropriate and unlawful for people to use permits from another family member," Toronto police Chief Julian Fantino said yesterday at the Murray St. parking garage.

"The designation of these parking spaces (is) for people who are legitimately disabled. To abuse that to me is quite unacceptable."

Those who illegally pulled into the handicapped spots were given $100 tickets and the parking permits were seized.

Fantino said it's disgusting when people illegally use spaces designated for those who have problems walking.

"The circumstances that these people face are difficult enough without people making it more difficult," he said.

The chief said 22 parking control officers are being permanently assigned for one month to monitor handicapped parking spots at malls and in hospital zones across the city.

Motorists using the spots without a proper permit or with a permit from a family member are the two most common complaints related to disabled zones, Fantino told reporters in the garage near Mount Sinai Hospital.

One elderly woman who received a ticket in the garage told an officer and reporters that she knew parking in the spot was wrong, but she was visiting her husband in the hospital and it was more convenient. Another woman said she was late for an appointment and thought it would be okay to use her mother's disabled sticker to park in the handicapped zone.

Some 400,000 disabled permits have been issued in Ontario, the majority in Toronto, and Fantino said there's considerable abuse.

Eight per cent of the permits investigated by police are actually registered to a deceased person but are being used by a family member, he said.

"We're elevating our enforcement and will prosecute anyone who uses these permits."

Fantino also says members of the public must leave disabled spaces open for valid permit holders. "People shouldn't take for granted they can park there," he said.

"There will be zero tolerance for offences regarding the misuse of illegal permits and vehicles illegally parked in disabled spaces."

Statistics from 2001 show that 11,822 vehicles were ticketed by Toronto police and parking control officers for being illegally parked in disabled spaces. Officers also seized 882 handicapped permits that were being misused.

Most seized permits are being improperly used by a family member of a handicapped individual, but 10 per cent are photocopies, said John Boothe, a parking control officer with the disabled liaison section.

Boothe said there have been some cases where disabled permits are being counterfeited and sold to people for as much as $500.

"There's definitely a market for them," he said.

Drivers with handicapped permits are allowed to park without charge at parking meters and on streets with pay-and-display machines, as well as in no-parking areas outside of rush-hour periods. They can also park overnight on residential streets without obtaining a parking permit.

Vehicles displaying disabled permits are not allowed to block snow routes, driveways or fire hydrants, and cannot park anywhere that would impede traffic.

Constable Bob Felske, who heads parking control's disabled liaison section, said he's pleased the police chief is sending out such a strong message by organizing a crackdown on people who abuse handicapped spots.

"He's always been a strong advocate," said Felske, who has been confined to a wheelchair since being severely injured in a July, 1984 car crash.

"I know how difficult it is for the disabled," he said.

Felske said malls should also consider increasing the number of spots designated for the disabled, suggesting there should be at least 15 spaces at the entrances of major shopping plazas.

"Go to most malls and they might have five or 10 spots," he said. "I don't think that's adequate. I would like to see more spaces."


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