TWO drivers were hit with €150 fines each at a popular Dublin beach for using the disabled parking bay without a permit.
Gardai issued the fines to the motorists at Dollymount Beach in Clontarf over the weekend.
When gardai quizzed one of the drivers, they replied: “I’ll move when someone with a disabled permit wants to park.”
A garda spokesperson said: “Gardai down at Dollymount Beach in Clontarf over the weekend issued both these drivers with fines for using the disabled parking bay without a permit. Please respect disabled parking bays.”
It’s an offence to park a vehicle in a disabled parking space unless the driver has a valid card.
If a motorist illegally parks in a disabled parking space, they will get a parking fine of €150.
This increases to €225 if it’s not paid within 28 days.
The fixed charge amount for misusing a disabled parking badge is €200 and this also hiked to €300 if you do not pay within 28 days.
Traffic wardens and gardai have the power to request and inspect a parking card to ensure it is not being misused.
Operation Enable was launched between An Garda Siochana, Dublin City Council, Dublin Street Parking Services, the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) and the Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland (DDAI).
The aim is to remind drivers of the need to respect the Disabled Parking Bays and to remind Disabled Parking Permit holders of the need to respect the conditions attached to the permits.
Award-winning advocate and author, Geraldine Lavelle, shared her personal experiences of navigating daily life as a disabled driver at the Disabled Drivers Association AGM.
She said: ”The ability to drive has had a profound and positive impact on my life, improving my ability to work, to socialise, and to manage my daily activities without relying on others.
“People with disabilities don’t enjoy asking for adjustments. We would just prefer if things were accessible in the first place and that includes having enough accessible parking bays, especially in popular areas.
TEXT ALERT CAMPAIGN
“It is disheartening to arrive somewhere and having to turn around and go home because there are either no accessible bays, there’s illegal parking or what is often worse, the space has been encroached upon, making it impossible for me to use.
“I would urge drivers not to invade any space in an accessible parking bay for this reason.
“I fully support the Association’s campaign for a Text Alert Scheme in every county as a safe deterrent to combat illegal parking.”
People took to the comments on X to share their thoughts on the incident.
One person said: “Unbelievable. Selfish in the extreme.”
Another said: “That is so inconsiderate and I see people doing it all the time then people with mobility challenges cannot park in these bays. Thank you.”
While another added: “Excellent job! The arrogance of that statement to a garda that they’ll move when someone wants to park.
“You can bet this isn’t their first rodeo breaking the rules of the road. I salute you.”
