Achi news desk-
Montreal parking authorities issued dozens of tickets earlier this month to drivers using spaces reserved for people with mobility disabilities.
Montreal police issued 73 tickets, Montreal mobility agents issued another 121 tickets, and 28 towing operations were carried out between June 1 and 7, Quebec Week for People with Disabilities. Police said minimum fines start at $200 to $300.
The surgery was performed in collaboration with Moelle épinière et motricité Québec (MÉMO-Qc), an organization that helps people living with spinal cord injuries.
“This annual campaign is an opportunity to raise awareness of the consequences for these people when they do not have access to the parking spaces reserved for them, especially those related to their safety and loss of autonomy,” said Commandant Michel Lebron, head of the division. Montreal Police Traffic Safety Division.
Taking up a space reserved for people with mobility disabilities — even for a short time — can have a significant impact on a person with a disability.
Spaces reserved for people with disabilities are designed to facilitate access to businesses and facilities.
It’s also a safety issue: because they’re the same height as cars, wheelchair users are also at a very high risk of collision when rolling through parking aisles.
Moreover, people living with disabilities will not be able to get out of their adapted vehicle if they cannot use an accessible parking spot, which often needs a place to deploy a ramp or lift.
Disabled drivers must use a valid parking permit issued by the Automobile Insurance Council of Quebec (SAAQ). The driver using a fake license or a license issued to another person may face additional fines.
“Over 16% of Quebec’s population consists of people with disabilities. For them, respecting the right to reserved parking is essential for their social and professional integration. For the rest of the population, respecting this right is a matter of civic-caring,” explained Walter Zelaya, CEO of MÉMO-Qc .
