Yvonne McLean using a disabled car parking spot. Monday, 10 September 2012. Picture: Gene Ramirez
Yvonne McLean using a disabled car parking spot. Monday, 10 September 2012. Photo: Gene Ramirez
YVONNE McLean's pet hate is people who park in disability parking bays without a permit — and there are plenty around who do that.
Last year, 98 penalty infringement notices were issued in Holroyd City for the offence of "stop in parking area for disabled without current disability permit displayed".
This year, 155 have been issued and it's only September.
"There are too few spots and too many people who misuse them," Ms McLean, of Wentworthville, said.
To help with the problem, Holroyd Council has hired two new parking patrol officers, but Ms McLean wonders whether it will change people's behaviour.
"The last few weeks, particularly, it's been a pain," she said.
Ms McLean broke her back 20 years ago, but prefers to park in able-bodied parking spots where possible.
"I've only used the [mobility parking scheme] sticker the last 10 years, as I've got older," she said.
When the Sun caught up with her in Station Street, Wentworthville, on Monday, the back of her car was hanging out of a disabled parking space behind a car that did not have a visible permit.
She considered saying something to the driver, but decided she didn't want to get into "another fight".
"I sometimes make them get out [of the disabled parking space]," she said.
An aged and disabled care worker, who did not wish to be named, said the problem in Wentworthville was exacerbated by too few accessible disability spaces.
"What I saw on Monday [August 27] at Wentworthville, made me sick — a parking attendant giving a fine to a disabled [person's] car for parking out the front of the chemist for five minutes," she said.
The spot to which she referred is a bus stop.
A Holroyd Council spokeswoman said the council encouraged such feedback, including if people felt traffic signage could be more legible, and whether there was insufficient disability parking or access in a particular area or facility.
In NSW, disability parking spaces are allocated by individual councils while Roads and Maritime Services administers the scheme.
To be eligible for a disability parking permit, a person must be unable to walk due to permanent or temporary loss of the use of one or both legs, or other permanent medical or physical condition.
Report abuse of the NSW disability parking scheme for people with a disability on 1300 884 899.