A disabled lady could not get to her car parked in disabled parking, because a man parked his vehicle (SUV) in front of the shop where his wife was browsing.
Fortunately, a concerned bystander saw the woman’s predicament and confronted the man in the SUV to move his vehicle and find an alternative, correct parking.
I have never considered parking tickets as fair. This was until my son told me he got a R10 000 fine for stopping on disabled parking.
First, I thought he needed to get someone to help him get a reduced amount, but the problem was that this happened in Texas, USA, and we don’t know how things work there.
But then I thought about it, and truth be told, he had no excuse.
He stopped there because it was convenient and close to a fishing spot.
But he is a young man, fit as a fiddle, and if he had to stop a kilometre from there, his lungs and legs could have easily done this ‘inconvenient’ distance.
The best spots are always allocated for the disabled to use for parking close to a specific location.
But it is not only in the USA that the parking spots for the disabled are misused.
In our neighbourhood, this is all too common, like yesterday when I spotted a person who had just entered his car and was about to reverse from the perfect parking spot right in front of the Woollies.
I saw the disabled marking on the tar in front of me, realising it was just another person taking a chance in an empty parking bay.
Disabled parking spaces are an extremely important feature for any car park, as they help to improve overall accessibility.
It gives disabled persons a shorter distance to travel from their vehicle to their destination.
To qualify for a disabled parking disc in this province, you need to have a letter from your doctor confirming that your mobility is severely impaired by an ongoing mental or physical condition, or that your mobility is temporarily but severely impaired.
The law states there shall be no discrimination against disabled people and they shall enjoy equal opportunities in all spheres of life and be protected against exploitation and all treatment of an abusive or degrading nature.
It’s important to note that not every disability is visible and many individuals have what is known as a ‘hidden disability’.
This can be anything from heart problems to learning disabilities, and all would probably qualify for a blue badge and could legally park in a disabled parking space.
In short, anyone with a disability and who has t blue badge may park in a disabled parking bay.
Disability discrimination is when a person with a disability is treated less favourably than a person without the disability in the same or similar circumstances.
Parking as an abled person on a clearly marked disabled parking is not only a violation of the law but also discriminates against people with disabilities.
It is God’s will that we obey the laws of our governments because laws give order and protect people.
In the Bible, Jesus speaks out against any discrimination and how to live as equals in Matthew 7:12: “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets”.
And Paul spoke about how to love your neighbour in Gal. 5:14: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself”.
God showed His value for every person by sending His Son to die for all. He created us all equal in His Son and his children and wants us to treat each other with this same love, value and respect that will build a healthy society.
Let’s STOP PARKING IN BAYS FOR THE DISABLED and respect our disabled citizens because they matter!
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