News Releases
Government Home Search Sitemap Contact Us  


November 26, 1996
(Government Services and Lands)


Paraplegic association welcomes changes to Mobility Impaired Parking Program

Beginning January 1, 1997, approximately 70 inspectors currently employed by Government Service Centres throughout the province will be authorized to issue tickets to motorists who illegally park in designated Mobility Impaired Parking Spaces.

The announcement was made today by Ernest McLean, Minister of Government Services and Lands, and Sean Fitzgerald, Executive Director, Newfoundland and Labrador Division, Canadian Paraplegic Association.

Mr. Fitzgerald said: "This change is one of several being made to the program to increase enforcement, tighten control and allow more disabilities to fall under the program."

Mobility impaired parking spaces are wider than regular parking areas, are usually painted light blue and display the international symbol of access. The penalty for illegally parking in these areas is $45.

Mr. McLean said: "While law enforcement agencies, including the RNC and the RCMP, issue tickets for violations, it must be understood that most mobility impaired parking areas are located in building parking lots that are not patrolled on a regular basis by these agencies."

From now until January 1, designated inspectors will issue warning tickets to offenders. The warning ticket will outline the new regulation, ask violators to respect the mobility impaired parking spaces and advise them of the $45 fine they could have received.

The CPA does not intend to recall old permits which expire December 31, 1996. A new validation sticker is being issued and all existing permit holders will have to reapply. Under the new regulations, persons with long term disabilities will be issued a validation sticker that will be good for five years. Persons with short term disabilities will be given validation stickers that will be legal for the length of the disability. All applications for new validation stickers will have to be signed by a member of the medical profession such as a doctor, nurse or therapist.

Mr. Fitzgerald said: "We welcome these changes. We were concerned because we knew that there were abuses. Some permits were being used by persons other than those to whom they were issued and some motorists were not respecting the spaces. We want to eliminate these abuses and make sure that these parking areas are used exclusively by those who have a legitimate need for them. We would also like to thank the great majority of motorists who have always respected the designated areas."

Mr. McLean said that increased patrol of these parking spaces will not result in any increased costs to the department.

Contact: Rick Callahan, Director of Communications, Government Services and Lands, (709) 729-4860 or Sean Fitzgerald, Executive Director, Newfoundland and Labrador Division, Canadian Paraplegic Association, (709) 753-5901.

1996 11 26 4:45 p.m.

SearchHomeBack to GovernmentContact Us


All material copyright the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. No unauthorized copying or redeployment permitted. The Government assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of any material deployed on an unauthorized server.
Disclaimer/Copyright/Privacy Statement