Disabled parking scam growing unchecked Author: Matthew Moore Date: 17/08/2006 Publication: Sydney Morning Herald
THE abuse of the disabled parking scheme is so widespread that in some Sydney streets almost all parking meters are taken by people displaying the cards.
Despite this, the Roads and Traffic Authority is boosting by 17 per cent a year the number of permits allowing free all-day parking on meters.
Napoleon Street in the city yesterday was typical, with 14 of 18 metered spots taken by cars with the stickers, which save the owners $4.40 an hour. In a Herald check of that street in January, nine of 19 cars had permits.
The Minister for Roads, Eric Roozendaal, said yesterday there were now 287,930 people in NSW with permits, an 11 per cent increase on the 256,000 permits issued as of December 8.
The flood of new permits comes despite evidence in the Herald that friends and family members routinely borrow the permits from legitimate holders because of the free parking they allow.
Unlike other states, the NSW scheme allows all-day free parking on meters, in signed areas allowing one hour parking, and access to disabled parking spots.
Mr Roozendaal announced yesterday he has increased the fines for abusing the scheme from $384 to $461 but with the huge savings the disabled stickers deliver, he admitted the changes may have little effect.
"We're hoping these increased penalties will help stamp out people who are cheating the system," Mr Roozendaal said. "If we can't get co-operation from people and continue to find people are cheating the system, we will look at tougher penalties."
Last year, only 614 fines were imposed for misuse of the permit scheme and just 23 permits were revoked by the RTA because it is so difficult to be certain drivers are abusing the scheme.
Although the scheme was overhauled in 2004 - and the permits now carry photographs of the holders - friends and relatives can use them legitimately if they are giving the holder a lift, something which is virtually impossible for council officers or police to check.
Abuse of the scheme costs councils millions of dollars in lost revenue. Estimates suggest the abuse costs City of Sydney as much as $10 million in parking meter revenue each year.
Other states give disabled drivers some concessions on the cost of parking but only NSW allows permit holders to park all day for free. Groups representing disabled people admit widespread abuse but oppose scrapping the existing system.
Mr Roozendaal said he would consider demerit points for misuse of permits if increased fines do not change behaviour.