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Disabled Persons Parking (Scotland) BillIn 2006, MSP Jackie Baillie (Labour, Dumbarton) proposed a Disabled Persons Parking (Scotland) Bill. The bill would seek to make all disabled persons parking bays legally enforceable. This would mean anyone caught abusing a disabled persons parking bay could be fined.At the end of 2006 Ms Baillie sent out a consultation paper explaining her bill and asking for people’s views. The MS Society Scotland’s Policy Forum submitted a response to the consultation, which you can read in part below: General comments on the bill: The Multiple Sclerosis Society Scotland welcomes the bill. The bill seeks to address an issue which is close to the hearts of many people with MS. People with MS regularly experience the abuse of disabled parking spaces. People affected by multiple sclerosis feel that reform of legislation and hence improvement in the availability of disabled parking is long overdue. Abuse of disabled parking spaces is not taken seriously by many members of the public. The current framework has led to some people affected by multiple sclerosis having to take direct action by putting cards on people’s windscreens saying ‘You took my space, do you want my disability?’ Q2. What are your views on disabled persons parking spaces in private car parks, such as supermarkets, being enforceable? The Society feels that all these spaces should be enforceable consistently across Scotland. Q.3 What are your views on enforcement issues or do you have any alternatives to the enforcement method proposed? The Society stresses the need to ensure that there is adequate manpower to enforce. In addition the Society feels there should be a process of public education about abuse of spaces. Offenders should be named and shamed. Members of the Society have pointed out that in other countries cars are clamped/towed away and this seems to be a very effective deterrent. One member suggested that a mobile squad could be employed to ensure that the law is enforced in areas out of city centres. It was felt that abusers need to feel that they are at risk of getting caught, wherever they are. Q.5 What would you suggest is a suitable level of fine and why? Members felt that the fine should be similar to other parking fines, in the name of equality. Too steep a fine could result in a backlash. The Society would like to propose that any surplus from fines after the costs of enforcement should be made available to organisations which promote the interests of disabled people, perhaps via a trust fund. This would avoid accusations that the new arrangements were just there to raise funds for the exchequer or local authority (this has been a problematic accusation in respect of speed camera revenues). Ms Baillie has been re-elected and has proposed the bill to the new parliament. You can follow the bill's progress on the Scottish Parliament website  |
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On-street parking petition
