Higher accessible parking fines and more education would help deter people from using the spaces illegally.
That’s according to Haley Flaro with Ability NB, which recently asked municipalities what their fines are.
“They range from $20 to $120, so it was all over the place,” says Flaro. “We believe there’s a large misuse of accessible parking in New Brunswick and there needs to be a greater deterrence.”
Flaro says they hear horror stories every week from people who can’t use these spots because others have parked in them.
“People that have had to park in standard spots and they got blocked in their car because they couldn’t discharge their ramp because another car parked too close to them because the spot wasn’t accessible,” she says.
Quispamsis wants to raise its accessible parking fine from the current $25, and Flaro says they want to see other cities and towns do the same.
She says the province can also help by amending the Motor Vehicle Act to allow municipalities to charge more than $125.
