Zero tolerance on disabled bay abuse
LOUTH gardai pledged ‘zero tolerance’ on the abuse of disabled parking bays across the county at the launch of the new multi agency Operation Enable.
The operation was launched in Dundalk last week with Gardai from across Louth warning motorists that the rules governing disabled parking bays will be ‘rigidly enforced’ throughout the county.
Speaking at the launch, Chief Superintendant of the Louth Garda Division, Christy Mangan explained that Operation Enable is a multi-agency initiative between An Garda Siochana, Louth County Council, the Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland and the Irish Wheelchair Association.
‘ The objective of Operation Enable is to remind motorists to respect the wheelchair accessible parking bays in County Louth and prompt disabled parking permit holders to respect the conditions attached to the parking permit.’
Both Chief Supt. Mangan and Superintendent Gerry Curley insisted there would be ‘zero-tolerance’ exercised by Gardai in the approach of those use the disabled parking spots without a permit or abuse the spots by using without the permit holder in the vehicle.
‘We won’t be using much discretion in this, and we will enforce the rules rigidly, we make no apologies about that,’ said Chief Supt. Mangan.
‘What we will be trying to do is educate people, reminding them of their obligations with regards to disabled parking bays.’
He explained that Operation Enable was rolled out in Dublin early last year, but Louth is the first county where it is being launched outside the capital.
The operation has already led to, 3,149 fixed charge penalties being issued to drivers or owners of vehicles found parked in disabled pays without the proper permit or in cases where the permit was being used by someone other than the permit holder. Another 148 fixed charge notices have been issued to drivers stopped in disabled parking bays.
He highlighted the recent significant increase in the fixed charge fine for parking in a disabled parking bay without displaying a valid permit increased from €80 to €150. If the fee is not paid within 28 days, the fine then increases to €225. If the fine remains unpaid 56 days after the offence is committed, a court summons is issued.
He paid tribute to local disability rights campaigner, John Morgan, who he said had contacted him about shortly after his appointment to the Louth division to raise a number of concerns including disabled bays.
Speaking at the launch, John said that the responsibility lay not simply with Gardai or disability lobbyists but also with businesses and retailers who should improve access.
‘ There is 13.5% of the population registered with a disability. We have money to spend as much as anyone else. One in eight people, we can’t get access to the shop - we’re not going to go into it.’ He added that disabled people who hold permits should also respect it by not allowing others to use it unless they are present in the car.
Louth councillor Maeve Yore appealed to supermarkets and shopping centres across Louth to ‘also exercise zero tolerance’ towards the abuse of parking bays in their car parks.