Mary Wallace
Ceist:94 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment if he will support regulations imposing automatic fines for non-disabled drivers who park in car parking spaces reserved for disabled drivers. [12384/95]
Written Answers. - Car Parking Regulations.
Work is in hands on the drafting of regulations under section 35 of the Road Traffic Act, 1994, for the general regulation and control of traffic, including the parking of vehicles in public places. Controls, which will apply nationally, on the parking of vehicles in disabled drivers' parking bays will be included in the regulations and I intend that the "on the spot fine" system will apply to offences involving illegal parking in such bays.
Pending the commencement of section 35 and the implementing regulations, the making of traffic and parking by-laws or temporary rules in relation to particular areas is a matter for the Garda Commissioner under sections 89 and 90 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961. I understand that the Commissioner has made temporary rules under those provisions in respect of certain counties which prohibit the parking of vehicles, other than vehicles displaying a disabled driver's permit, in a disabled driver's parking bay. The offence of contravening such a prohibition is subject to the "on the spot fine" system. The making of further temporary rules to extend the prohibition to additional areas is a matter for the Garda Commissioner.