Home News Disabled Parking Rort Policing Fails

Disabled Parking Rort Policing Fails

Tuesday, 28 April 2009 00:00

NSW — A SYDNEY council has exposed the State Government's so-called crackdown on people rorting disabled parking as a mockery.

Willoughby Council rangers have written 120 tickets for fraudulent use of Mobility Parking Scheme passes in the past eight months - more than 30 per cent of the statewide total for 2008.

Of 300 vehicles investigated by the council since tougher penalties were introduced in June last year, 100 drivers were fined for abusing the permits. Earlier this month a man was fined $486 for using the permit of a 91-year-old relative who had died four months ago.

"We've had six people caught for using the permits of deceased people," Willoughby Council head ranger Richard Goulston said.

Council manager Nick Tobin has written to Roads Minister Michael Daley demanding tougher screening of applicants, more informative windscreen permits and the removal of free parking.

"Problems with the MPS scheme will worsen unless changes are made," Mr Tobin wrote.

Mr Daley defended the Government's record since tougher penalties were announced last June.

"In 2008, 169 permit holders were warned and 65 had permits revoked," Mr Daley said.

"To date, in 2009, 43 permit holders have been warned or had their permits revoked. This is on top of 390 fines issued in 2008 for the misuse of permits."

But Willoughby Council claimed it was too easy to get a permit, with its own investigations revealing more than 300,000 have been issued and continue to be approved at the rate of 1000 per week.

"The current system is far too facilitative by allowing people to access the scheme with minor conditions," Mr Tobin said.

The NSW Physical Disabilities Council condemned the selfishness of people abusing the system.

Executive officer Ruth Robinson said yesterday she was extremely disappointed by the results of the Willoughby blitz.

"I think a lot of people are too focused on themselves and their immediate needs without thinking of the broader picture," she said.

Mr Tobin said rangers were given "pathetic excuses".

"A lot of people lie and say they just dropped their granny off. We've heard it all," he said.

The council wants the Government to investigate a possible illegal trade in parking permits.

"It could well be the case that people are buying these things in pubs," Mr Tobin said.

"There needs to be a significant tightening of the criteria prior to the issue of any MPS card."

Source Adam Walters, Daily Telegraph
 
 

© 2009 PDCNSW. All rights reserved.