Skip to content
  1. Home
  2. Local News

Parkers violating disabled rights

Richmond ranks worse among Metro municipalities for disabled parking violations
Graeme Wood
Vince Miele Ella Huang
Ella Huang and Vince Miele of RCD are concerned about inconsiderate drivers who park in disabled parking spaces without a permit or even with an expired and/or forged one.

A complete disregard for disabled parking spaces throughout Richmond is among the city’s most concerning driving problems, according to the Richmond Centre for Disability.

“We hope to heighten public awareness for the proper use of accessible parking permits and to curb its abuse and misuse,” said RCD executive director Ella Huang who notes there’s been a recent rash of violations that have been reported to the centre.

She noted one vehicle at Aberdeen Centre had recently been caught with a four-year-old, tampered and expired placard.

Last January, the centre’s board chair, Vince Miele, spoke to media about how Richmond had led Metro Vancouver municipalities in 2013 for disabled parking violation tickets; Richmond had 276, while Burnaby, a city with a similar population and area had just 153. Vancouver and Surrey had 214 and 254, respectively (although the statistics showed no enforcement levels), according to SPARC BC

Miele now says the situation still hasn’t improved, at least anecdotally speaking.

“More and more people are getting placards and family members are seeing the opportunity to use them.

“And for a person to go through the trouble to make something up to park is outrageous,” said Miele.

Excuses range from: ‘It was only two minutes’ to ‘I didn’t see it’ and ‘mind your own business,’ said Miele.

Huang noted disabled people need the wide, designated spaces to exit and enter their vehicles.

@WestcoastWood

[email protected]