Hundreds of tickets issued for misusing accessible parking permits in Ottawa parking spaces
Hundreds of tickets have been issued this fall to vehicles illegally parking in accessible parking spaces in Ottawa lots.
Bylaw Services says 490 tickets have been issued to vehicles illegally parked in accessible parking spaces since Oct. 1.
"We have noticed an increase in misuse of accessible parking spaces in our city," Bylaw Services said on X.
"No permit? No excuse."
The fine for misusing an accessible parking permit is $500.
On October 22, a bylaw officer checking accessible parking permits in a grocery store parking lot in Orléans issued seven tickets in a two-hour period.
Five tickets were issued for using a permit that belonged to someone else, while one driver was using a fake accessible parking permit.
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
Michael Lalonde, City of Ottawa Program Manager for Parking Control and Logistics, says the number of tickets handed out this year is up 11 per cent over last year.
"This year, to date, we've issued so far 2,701 parking tickets. The set fines for this infraction would be an early payment $400, and the set fine of $500."
Lalonde says they're seeing a lot of photocopied parking permits.
"What we are seeing also is a lot of these permits being photocopied, distributed because of the benefits that come with having an accessible parking space, even in the downtown spots or even in a general convenience store," Lalonde said. "So, we are seeing a lot of permits being duplicated and, and where the permit holders not with the vehicle or with the driver."
Other cases include expired permits that have been altered to hide the date.
"I just think people are busy and it's convenient to for just five minutes of parking a spot, but not taking the consideration of the needs for someone who actually might need that spot because of their accessibility needs," he said.
Kyle Humphrey is an Ottawa resident with accessibility needs and says he's happy to see the city cracking down.
"I am so grateful that things are finally being tackled. The number of times I have pulled into a spot ... or tried to pull into a spot and had someone there, who didn't need the spot, or who had their parents pass," he said. "It means no Christmas shopping for me. It means no going to see friends. It means basically not being able to get out of the car. And, yeah, I mean, someone might be able to drop someone off and I have the luxury of being able to hold my chair while I go somewhere… But there are parents with children who require these spaces."
"The people that lose out of all this are the people who actually need the spots, who took the time to go get their doctor and get this permit, and who still want to enjoy their life and basically go to these stores with the same rights that we all do," said Lalonde.
"I think it's more important now than ever that we consider people's accessibility and specialist parking spots in the future."
--With files from CTV News Ottawa's Natalie van Rooy
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From essential goods to common stocking stuffers, Trudeau offering Canadians temporary tax relief
Canadians will soon receive a temporary tax break on several items, along with a one-time $250 rebate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
No evidence linking Modi to criminal activity in Canada: national security adviser
A senior official says the Canadian government is not aware of any evidence linking Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to alleged criminal activity perpetrated by Indian agents on Canadian soil.
Trump chooses Pam Bondi for attorney general pick after Gaetz withdraws
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump on Thursday named Pam Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida, to be U.S. attorney general just hours after his other choice, Matt Gaetz, withdrew his name from consideration.
Second Australian teen dies in tainted alcohol case in Laos that has killed 6 tourists
A second Australian teenager who fell critically ill after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos has died in a hospital in Bangkok, her family said Friday, bringing the death toll in the mass poisoning of foreign tourists to six.
A one-of-a-kind Royal Canadian Mint coin sells for more than $1.5M
A rare one-of-a-kind pure gold coin from the Royal Canadian Mint has sold for more than $1.5 million. The 99.99 per cent pure gold coin, named 'The Dance Screen (The Scream Too),' weighs a whopping 10 kilograms and surpassed the previous record for a coin offered at an auction in Canada.
More than 70K Murphy beds recalled across Canada, U.S. over tipping concerns
A popular series of Murphy beds that had been sold online is under a recall in Canada and the U.S. after several reported instances of the furniture detaching from walls.
She thought her children just had a cough or fever. A mother shares sons' experience with walking pneumonia
A mother shares with CTVNews.ca her family's health scare as medical experts say cases of the disease and other respiratory illnesses have surged, filling up emergency departments nationwide.
Meta fights CRTC, refuses to publicly release info on news blocking measures
Meta is refusing to publicly disclose information that could determine whether it is subject to the Online News Act despite blocking news from its platforms.
Colorado funeral home owners charged with 100s of corpse abuse counts set to plead guilty
The owners of a Colorado funeral home are expected to plead guilty Friday to state charges accusing them of leaving 190 bodies to decay on their premises and giving the grieving relatives fake ashes.