Access Canberra has issued a reminder to motorists not to use disability parking permits if they are not the permit holder.
According to the Agancy’s Director of Parking Operations and Traffic Camera Compliance, Chris Seddon, the reminder follows the issue of 272 infringements to drivers in a single month from 15 February, for using lost, stolen or invalid disability parking permits.
Mr Seddon said technology now allowed parking inspectors to interrogate data while on patrol and check for the use of invalid disability permits or ones that had been reported lost or stolen.
“This is good news for those genuinely seeking a disabled car park who often find car spaces occupied by illegally parked vehicles,” Mr Seddon said.
“Most of the fraudulent use is due to people, other than the permit holder, using the permit when the permit holder is not in the vehicle.”
He said disability parking permits were issued to the person with the disability not the vehicle.
“If a permit holder is not travelling in the vehicle it is an offence for any other person to display and use the permit,” he said.
“If a driver drops off a permit holder in say Woden, the driver is not entitled to use the permit in Civic without the permit holder being with them,” Mr Seddon said.
“It is also illegal to use the permit of a person who has passed away,” he said.
