Calls for 'zero tolerance' enforcement for Clare drivers 'misusing' disability and priority parking spaces

An Ennis councillor is calling on Clare County Council to enforce a "zero tolerance" policy towards motorists that misuse disability and priority parking spaces.

It was one of a number of steps that Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy put forward in a motion at the council meeting last Monday to " to demonstrate that our County is sensitive to and progressive on older person parking needs."

Her motion called for "stiff penalties" priority and disability parking bays, and for "measures and training to ensure that County Parking Wardens understand the significance of a “zero tolerance” approach to misusers of both the priority and disability  parking bays".

She also called for a car badge/sticker for Age Friendly/Priority Parking bays to be issued "to all Clare residents in receipt of the old age pension, so as to differentiate and ensure proper use  by those permitted", and for the council to erect agreed standardised signage, "large enough and low enough on the poles for each  priority parking bay to accommodate their correct usage".

Cllr Molloy also asked if "the Council Executive consider that the spaces are sufficient in quantity and are  of appropriate width to accommodate their users".

According to the council, there are currently 302 disability parking spaces and 52 priority parking spaces across county Clare, with 11 more selected in Kilrush, to be marked later this month.

In response to Cllr Molloy's motion, senior engineer Cyril Feeney said that the quantity of priority parking bays "can be reviewed by each Municipal District."

In Mr Feeney's response he highlighted that priority parking spaces are not specified in any road traffic legislation and are in  effect "standard parking space and are subject to the same parking regulations and charges as standard parking spaces".

"As they have no statutory footing the Council are not in a position to issue permits or car badge sticker for their use," he stated.

He also highlighted that the council does not have access to "the personal details of all residents in  Clare that are in receipt of the old age pension and we would have no legislative basis to request such information from a government department".

Mr Feeney said that the signage and road markings used by the municipal districts for priority parking spaces could be reviewed in order to standardise it, but he cautioned the "introduction of additional poles and signs which can lead to a cluttered footpath landscape".

The fine for parking in a disabled persons’ parking bay, which are monitored by the council's traffic wardens under Article 44(1) of the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations  1997, without displaying a valid disabled  parking permit is set nationally at €150.