February’s Bylaw Enforcement Education Program is disabled parking

Feb 7, 2018 | 3:42 PM

There is an ongoing issue in Grande Prairie with people using disabled parking spots when they don’t have a valid permit.

This month, enforcement officers will be cracking down on those drivers as part of the Bylaw Enforcement Education Program for February.

“Certainly, people take advantage of those stalls when the weather is not so good,” said Sgt. Kelly Kokesch, “But we really try to discourage that and leave those spots open for the people with the permits.”

“A lot of people have mobility issues and they just can’t park across the parking lot or get their wheelchairs all the way across from the furthest end of the parking lot,” he said.

He also said we need to be mindful of elderly people that want to go to shopping centres or recreational centres and try to give them the closest parking possible.

They won’t just be handing out tickets. Enforcement Services will be educating people who do have permits to make sure they are consistently using them in the proper way.

Sgt. Kokesch says Enforcement Services will also be making sure businesses have the proper signage up and the appropriate number of stalls.

If you decide to park in a disabled parking stall and you don’t have a valid permit, it’s a $250 fine.

by Sheena Roszell