Call for replacement of fines for illegal parking in disabled bays

The issue is causing problems for people who are actually allowed to use them.

The penalties for illegally parking in a disabled space aren’t high enough according to a local TD.

Pauline Tully, who’s Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on Disability and Carers says the current fines are not enough of a deterrent to stop people parking in the spaces without a valid pass.

She says a points system should be introduced to discourage people from doing so.

“I am calling on the Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan to introduce a points system to reduce the number of non-disabled drivers using parking bays for disabled drivers.

“The current situation where non-disabled drivers are fined for using a parking bay provided for disabled drivers is simply not working, it is not a strong enough deterrent.”

11,071 fines were issued by Gardaí to people parking illegally in a disabled spot over the past three years. In 2019, 3,829 were issued, 2020 saw 3,099 and 2021 saw 4,143. These figures don’t include fines issued by local authority parking wardens.

“I have written directly to the Minister for Transport to urge him to introduce penalty points on licenses as a much stronger deterrent to the abuse of these parking bays”, says Deputy Tully.

“Accessible parking is essential for disabled people to live fully independent lives; it is important that parking bays for disabled people are not abused.

“This is a disability rights issue.”