Disabled parking being widely abused

Ulster Unionist Assembly member for Fermanagh & South Tyrone, Tom Elliott MLA is deeply disturbed to learn the level of parking fines which have been issued to motorists who are parking in designated disabled parking spaces without a valid badge.

Tom said: "Figures revealed by Minister of Regional Development show that over 16,856 tickets were issued in Northern Ireland in the period October 2006 until 30 September 2009 to vehicles parked in a designated disabled persons parking place, but more alarming is the fact that nearly 10,000 tickets were issued to disabled badge holders, presumably for not correctly displaying their badge. A degree of common sense must be displayed by parking attendants to avoid so many genuine disabled drivers from being fined for minor breaches. The other concern is that able bodied people do not seem to care about the problems they cause by using these bays

This problem is not confined to our main thorough fares but also at hospitals and supermarkets where able bodied drivers are depriving those less able to park near to the service areas or shops in order to do their shopping and other essential needs. Parking at shops, supermarkets or hospitals for disabled drivers is not a luxury - it's a basic necessity. We have very limited parking spaces in many of our town centres and only a very small proportion are designated as disabled bays and there needs to be a change in mindset from many able bodied motorists that they should respect the need of disabled drivers for convenient parking.

There are so many people abusing the system as I have often witnessed drivers with disabled stickers parking their cars in the best place then seen running to the shop at Olympic speeds to avoid the rain. I also find it reprehensible that Blue Badges are being used by those for whom they were not intended, especially by perfectly able bodied relatives in order to get a parking space. Fines must be imposed in the proper manner, that those deserving of the disabled bay parking spaces can use them without fear of a fine and those not deserving should be punished."