A Laois County Councillor has called for action in relation to non-permit holders parking in disabled parking areas.
Speaking at the recent Portlaoise Municipal District meeting, Cllr Tommy Mulligan said that people parking in disabled areas is an “ongoing issue” and is happening “all over Portlaoise”.
Cllr Mulligan said that a system should be introduced in Portlaoise whereby someone can contact a traffic warden if a non-permit holder is parking in a disabled spot.
“They could then issue a fine straight away. That would be a good way of dealing with it.
“There is a certain lack of empathy out there,” he added. “People don’t care.”
Cllr Caroline Dwane-Stanley said that while people being fined for going a few minutes over in a standard parking space was one thing, “I can’t abide people going into disabled spots”.
Cllr John Joe Fennelly said the issue certainly isn’t the warden’s fault. “It’s driver behaviour,” he said. “But maybe we could look at increasing the fine.”
“It really is driver behaviour,” added Cllr Marie Tuohy. “Not being able to get a parking spot for a disabled person can spoil someone’s day.”
SEE ALSO – Extra school classes welcomed but now the challenge is somewhere to put them
