Vaughan
December 04, 2008 11:51 PM
$300 fine excessive, but will be reduced with proof, city enforcement boss says
Genevieve DeBellis
Vaughan resident Sophie Tanel has parked in the same disabled parking spot at the Maple Community Centre for the past five years. Only on one recent occasion, she returned to her car to find a $300 ticket slapped to her windshield.
“Why wouldn’t he just give me a warning?” she said of city bylaw enforcers, who conduct a ticketing blitz monthly to discourage able-bodied drivers from parking in spots for the disabled. “It’s nothing but a cash grab.”
Slippery signMs Tanel, 61, has a valid disabled parking permit. But the blue and white laminated sign must have slipped slightly on the dashboard that day, obscuring its validity date, she said.
A trip to Vaughan city hall with her valid permit in hand resulted in the ticket being knocked down to $15.
“The city should be ashamed of itsef,” she said. “It’s disgusting and I am appalled it would do such a thing.”
Ms Tanel contacted the Vaughan Citizen in response to a Nov. 13 front page story that detailed a similar experience disabled driver Brian Sidorchuk had while on a shopping trip to Vaughan Mills.
OverboardVaughan politician Tony Carella said enforcement has taken a proactive approach to issuing tickets because of people abusing disabled parking spots.
“Sometimes enforcement goes overboard,” he said.
But Tony Thompson, director of enforcement services, said the ticket will be reduced for drivers who can produce a valid permit.
“A fine for $300 is a little bit excessive, and we realize that,” he said, adding the city is now developing a brochure that outlines the obligations of the permit-holder and enforcement officer.
One of the problems could be the design of the permit itself, which is difficult to keep in place.
Ms Tanel, for instance, said it’s inconvenient for her to tape the permit to the dashboard because she frequently changes cars.
According to Transportation Ministry spokesperson Ciaran Ganley, attaching it to the sun visor may be a better plan.
“The individual may carry the permit from vehicle to vehicle as required for travelling,” he said, adding that regardless of where drivers display the permit, the wheelchair symbol must be visible at all times.
Mr. Sidorchuk, however, who originally contacted the Citizen to share his story, feels the city is reinterpreting the rules for its own benefit.
“Civic officials are playing let’s make a deal,” he said.