Parking spaces and fines for the disabled

Umberto Spampinato (The Sunday Times, August 19), who is in possession of the Blue Badge Permit for Parking reserved for disabled persons, has been fined by a local warden for parking on a single, faded yellow line when he could not find suitable...

Umberto Spampinato (The Sunday Times, August 19), who is in possession of the Blue Badge Permit for Parking reserved for disabled persons, has been fined by a local warden for parking on a single, faded yellow line when he could not find suitable parking in the area.

The National Parents Society of Persons with Disability (NPSPD) supports Mr Spampinato and believes that no ticket should have been issued by the local warden when a Blue Badge was displayed, considering that no obstruction to other road users was caused, particularly where reserved parking for disabled persons was not available.

Moreover, we would like to point out an apparent dilemma. According to Access for All (Design Guidelines) issued by the National Commission Persons with Disability, there should be at least one accessible parking space for every three to ten parking spaces, two spaces or one van for every 11-25 parking spaces and so on (pages 30-31 of the Parking Guidelines). The Access for All (Design Guidelines) gives direction on one's legal obligations and is available at www.knpd.org.

If the authorities complied with these guidelines, parking spaces for people with disability would be ample. Therefore, Mr Spampinato would have found a reserved parking space, and wouldn't have been fined. Considering the lack of facilities providing equal opportunities, it is not fair to impose additional hardships to people with disability.

In the year 2000, Parliament unanimously passed the Law of Equal Opportunities (Persons with Disability) Act. The Access for All - Design Guidelines have been available since then and there has been adequate time for the authorities to implement requirements and remove barriers that prevent inclusion.

Is this a case where the Law of Equal Opportunities (Persons with Disability) has been broken? If this is the case such (ticket) fines should not be issued and local wardens are to be adequately informed.

Compliance with guidelines requirements should be implemented in all areas.

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