Disabled woman faces £70 fines for parking outside her home
Council rejects disabled bay request, fines woman £70 for parking
A 76-year-old disabled woman, Maria Rodriguez, dreads parking outside her own home due to accumulating £70 parking fines. Maria claims her condition forces her to leave her car on the street, but she’s continuously fined for doing so.
For five years, Maria has requested the council to convert the double yellow lines outside her house into a disabled parking bay, without success. Meanwhile, the fines on her vehicle in Liverpool keep increasing.
Sefton Council defends the fines, stating they adhere to national parking regulations. Maria argues these rules are too rigid and don’t consider her specific situation.
Fuming disabled pensioner slapped with £70 fines for parking outside her homehttps://t.co/PtLPZehIXwhttps://t.co/PtLPZehIXw
— Edinburgh Live (@EdinburghLive_) October 7, 2024
Reports indicate Maria’s fines result from improper display of her blue badge and time card. Maria, who speaks English as a second language, was instructed to place the badge on the side. She acknowledges possible misunderstandings due to language barriers but insists she has explained her circumstances to officials.
A Blue Badge allows disabled individuals to park closer to their destinations. Maria, who successfully applied for one, uses it daily. However, the trouble starts when she returns home and struggles to find parking.
Maria expressed her frustration, stating, “I’m just tired of all this because I keep getting £70 fines for parking outside my own house. How can this be? I have lived here for 23 years and remember the day the parking situation changed. A machine came to put yellow lines just on the corner – nowhere else. I had been asking for the disabled bay for many years but they didn’t do that.”
Maria, registered as disabled with mobility issues, relies on her car and needs parking near her front door. Without a resident or disabled bay, her life has become a daily struggle.
She added, “There are people that don’t understand the need for appropriate parking for drivers with disabilities. If people had someone in their family, they would probably understand and they could make their voice heard louder because I live alone and it’s difficult to get people to listen.”
When asked about the council’s efforts to understand her need for accessible parking and clarify display guidance, Maria responded, “Well, the question is very interesting. I contacted the council to explain, but all they say is that this fine needs to be paid.”
A Sefton Council spokesperson highlighted strict regulations for Blue Badge use, stating, “There are nationally set rules and responsibilities that must be followed when using a Blue Badge. One rule states that all Blue Badge holders must ensure their badges or time clocks are displayed correctly and visible in the vehicle they are using, regardless of where they park. If this is not done, a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) may be issued.”
What Other Media Are Saying
- The Guardian: A disabled woman faces daily battles with parking enforcement, highlighting systemic issues and personal struggles in navigating inaccessible urban environments.(read more)
- Sky News reports on a disabled woman’s daily struggle with parking enforcement, highlighting the emotional toll and legal battles over unfair fines despite her legitimate needs.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Why does Maria Rodriquez keep getting parking fines?
Maria gets fined for incorrectly displaying her Blue Badge and time card.
How long has Maria been asking for a disabled parking bay?
Maria has been asking the council for a disabled parking bay for five years.
What does Sefton Council say about the fines issued to Maria?
Sefton Council says the fines are in line with national enforcement guidelines.
What is a Blue Badge?
A Blue Badge is a parking permit allowing individuals with disabilities to park closer to their destination.
Does Maria feel the council understands her need for accessible parking?
Maria feels the council has not made an effort to understand her need for accessible parking.
