Stricter penalties for those who park illegally in places intended for people with disabilities are being promoted by DIKO MP Andreas Apostolou with a proposal for a law. The proposal was submitted to the Plenary Session of the Parliament and referred to the Parliamentary Committee on Transport for discussion.
The legislative initiative aims to tackle the phenomenon of illegal parking in spaces reserved for people with disabilities, which, according to the explanatory memorandum accompanying the proposal, is on the rise.
Specifically, it is proposed to increase the existing out-of-court fine from €300 to €400, for the offense of parking or even abandoning a vehicle by a non-entitled person in a parking lot for people with disabilities.
At the same time, provision is introduced for an increase in the fine in case the driver repeats the violation within three years from the date of issuance of the first notice of an out-of-court fine. The financial burden, from €400 today, is increased to €500.
The main objective of the proposal is to strengthen the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities by strengthening the existing legislative framework and preventing such violations.
The explanatory memorandum emphasizes that the unhindered movement of people with disabilities is a basic condition for their activation and participation in the community. In this light, ensuring the availability of specially designed parking spaces is directly linked to the ability of beneficiaries to move without barriers.
The proposal is now before the Parliamentary Committee on Transport, where the proposed changes will be examined, before being forwarded for a vote in plenary. Until its possible adoption and entry into force, the existing fine of €300 continues to apply.
