NSW — Roads
Minister Eric Roozendaal today announced an increase
in fines for people who abuse the Mobility Parking
Scheme, in line with the NSW Government’s commitment
to crack down on motorists cheating the system.
Mr Roozendaal said fines have been
increased from $384 to $461 for six offences relating to
the RTA’s Mobility Parking Scheme (MPS).
“The Mobility Parking Scheme
was brought in to make life easier for those with genuine
disabilities,” Mr Roozendaal said.
“I am warning those who abuse
the system – you now risk a heavier
penalty.
“The MPS is for people who
need it, not those who cheat the system to the detriment
of people with disabilities.
“NSW has the highest fines in
Australia for motorists illegally parking in disabled
parking spots and also those who fraudulently use MPS
cards.
“The RTA has identified that
some motorists are using a friend or relative’s card
to enable them to receive free all day parking. This is
disgraceful behaviour that has to stop.
“This is clearly an abuse of
the system and disadvantages those who genuinely need an
MPS card.”
Mr Roozendaal said the increase in
fines, which was gazetted last Friday, brings the penalty
in line with other major offences, such as driving an
unregistered car.
There are currently 326,865 MPS
card holders in NSW. The RTA issued 53,341 new MPS cards
in the 12 months to July 31 this year.
The RTA has identified MPS
application forms where the doctor has certified the
forms without the name and date of birth of the
applicant, making it unclear if the person presenting the
form is actually eligible for the MPS card.
Mr Roozendaal said the RTA will be
writing to doctors in the next two weeks to advise them
of the strict eligibility criteria for the Mobility
Parking Scheme, after an ongoing review of the system
identified problems with 110 medical forms used in
applications for MPS cards.
In these cases, doctors had signed
medical certificates without the applicant's details
being completed.
The RTA relies on the advice of a
medical doctor to certify that an individual is eligible
for a MPS card. Applicants are required to provide a
medical certificate to the RTA when applying or renewing
for a card..As part of the RTA’s continual review of
the system the RTA has previously referred 11 doctors to
the NSW medical board in regards to concerns over medical
certificates they have issued.
Approximately 100 other doctors
have received letters from the RTA in the past relating
to concerns over medical certificates they have
issued.
Mr Roozendaal said the offences
where the fine had been increased to $461
were:
- Displaying the MPS card in
contravention of the conditions of use
- Reproducing, copying, defacing,
altering or destroying an MPS card
- Not returning an MPS card when
the holder has ceased to be disabled
- Not producing an MPS card to an
authorised officer when requested
- Not returning an expired MPS
card to the RTA when the card has been revoked by the
RTA
- Not returning an expired MPS
card to the RTA when directed to do so by the
RTA
Mr Roozendaal said the RTA
investigates reports of misuse of MPS cards from NSW
Police and local council parking officers.
“I have asked the RTA to work
with police and local councils to enforce these tougher
penalties,” Mr Roozendaal said.
To be eligible for a Mobility
Parking Scheme card, a person must be:
- Unable to walk due to the
permanent or temporary loss of use of one or both legs
or other permanent medical or physical
condition
- Someone whose physical
condition is detrimentally affected as a result of
walking 100 metres
- Requires the use of crutches, a
walking frame, callipers, scooter, wheelchair or other
similar mobility aid
- MPS cards are also available to
people who are permanently blind.
The RTA, in consultation with
various peak organisations that represent people with
disabilities, monitors the MPS scheme and continually
seeks to improve its operation.
The Mobility Parking Scheme MPS
photocard was introduced to crack down on people trying
to cheat the system. Use of the new card became
compulsory on 1 August, 2004.
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