Government Cracks Down on Misuse of Disability Parks

The Government is cracking down on people who misuse car parks for disabled people. They can expect heavy fines on top of a towing fee. So say Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston and Transport Minister Simeon Brown. 

“Increasing penalties for people who misuse mobility parking will level the playing field for disabled people by helping prevent unnecessary disruptions in their day-to-day lives,” Ms Upston says.

“Parking in an area reserved for disabled people is the epitome of arrogance. We need to get tough on this selfish behaviour, and that is why we are taking action. The current $150 penalty will increase to $750, reflecting the seriousness of this offence.

“The penalty for abusing mobility parking in New Zealand is far too low compared to other countries, like Australia. Increasing this will send a very clear message that this behaviour is not okay, and our Government is serious about addressing accessibility issues.”

The Government has also agreed to an inflation-based increase to the towing fees, to come into effect from 1 October 2024.  

“Ensuring we have a parking and towing system that promotes greater compliance and enables towing operators to cover their costs will create a more efficient transport system that enables Kiwis to visit the places they want to go,” Mr Brown says.   

“Towage fees have been too low for too long. This has meant that tow-truck operators are often left out of pocket for the service they provide. That’s not acceptable and is why we’re updating fees. 

“Parking infringement fees have not been updated in two decades, making councils’ role in managing public parking increasingly difficult. For example, in Auckland, this has meant that paying a parking ticket is sometimes cheaper than paying for parking. 

“The changes the Government is announcing today will ensure that the value of penalty infringements is inflation adjusted to support local councils with enforcement, something councils have been calling for,” Mr Brown says.

The Ministry of Transport will support local government and the towage and storage sector to implement the fee increases by 1 October.