Val Jones is calling for warnings when disabled permits are about to run out. 31390 Picture: Luke Plummer.
By Tania Martin
THE Patch’s Val Jones has called for the Shire of Yarra Ranges to review its disabled parking renewal policy.
The 89-year-old woman was shocked last week to find her parking permit had run out.
Mrs Jones is legally blind and has to use a walking stick to get around.
Her daughter, Dianne Jonkers was equally shocked to find her mother had been fined $113 for using a disabled parking space.
“That’s half mum’s pension but we paid it anyway,” Ms Jonkers said.
The pair had parked outside the Monbulk Pharmacy shortly after 1pm last Monday 25 May.
Mrs Jones said they were halfway home before Ms Jonkers noticed the fine.
“We pulled over straight away,” she said.
Ms Jonkers said her mother had no idea her parking permit had expired.
It had run out three months ago but Mrs Jones had no way of knowing as the council doesn’t send out renewal notices.
“She has it in her purse and just pulls it out and puts it on the car whenever she needs it,” Ms Jonkers said.
“My father died in January and he was always the one to look after these things.”
Ms Jonkers said the council currently doesn’t send out renewal notices.
She is now calling for the council to change its policy.
“They send out rates notices but not renewals for disabled parking,” Ms Jonkers said.
Mrs Jones said the fine itself didn’t concern her but wanted to make sure it didn’t happen to anyone else.
“There are a lot of others in my situation that wouldn’t even know their ticket has expired,” she said.
Mrs Jones said she knew another lady in another area whose ticket had expired by more than 12 months and only received a warning.
“It’s ridiculous they don’t send a notice or card to you,” she said.
Mrs Jones will now be without a disabled parking permit for more than two months as she has to get clearance from her doctor before the ticket could be reinstated.
Shire spokesman James Martin said traditionally the onus had been on the individual with the parking permit.
But he said the council was looking to introduce a system in the next few months to be able to generate reminders.
