No permit? No parking. Got it?
Wednesday, July 11, 2012 by: SooToday.com Staff
CITY POLICE
NEWS RELEASE
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The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service has been receiving complaints about vehicles illegally parked in designated “Accessible Parking Spaces” also known as handicapped parking spaces.
The City Police would like to remind motorists that parking areas and spaces designated as “Accessible Parking Spaces” are only to be used by vehicles displaying a valid Accessible Parking Permit.
These parking areas were designed to make access to buildings easier for handicapped persons.
All other vehicles parked in these spaces are subject to a $300 fine and could also be towed away - at the owner’s expense.
The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service is asking the public to have consideration when searching for a parking space and not park in an Accessible Parking Space.
To assist the public to remember to park in the correct areas the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service will be stepping up enforcement for Accessible Parking Spaces violators.
The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service will also be assisted by students, employed under the Youth In Policing Program, to target areas of concern by placing warning flyers on violator’s vehicles.
The violator’s vehicle licence plate will be recorded and forwarded to the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service traffic office for follow up.
Some samples of the Accessible Parking Areas (handicapped parking) signs are shown above.
To park in front of one of these signs a valid Accessible Parking Permit is required.
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oldawg 7/11/2012 4:04:30 PM ReportThose signs in your article are very confusing. That first one might even be taken as an insult by someone in a wheelchair. I don't recall seeing signs like that around here and we have a permit.
thera 7/11/2012 4:12:36 PM ReportLol, I liked your post. In all seriousness though, no one should be offended by this sign because if you are a licensed driver, you should know and understand these signs to be able to park appropriately. But you're right, I don't believe there are any of these signs here - you usually only see them in bigger cities.
oldawg 7/11/2012 4:36:52 PM ReportYes, I was just trying to point out that at first glance, these signs might be a little confusing. I wish them luck in their project. Like I said, we have a permit and I have seen a lot of abuse of these parking spaces.
3rd times a charm 7/11/2012 4:50:05 PM ReportI have, and really need, a permit...
sometimes, on a 'good' day, I won't use a handicap spot, but on bad days, it sure ticks me off to see
the 'handicapper' sitting in the vehicle, motor running, while the teenage jumps out and is the shopper...
I think the signs are pretty straight forward...but that's just me :)
TankGirl 7/11/2012 4:55:23 PM ReportThere is a sign just like that at the John Rhodes and there are more all over the city people. Relax.
iluvslots 7/11/2012 5:36:10 PM ReportI agree. The only person allowed to park in these spots should hold a valid permit. This does not mean their children or grandchildren or any other family friend to lazy to walk to their destination.
karebear 7/11/2012 6:24:13 PM ReportI have a permit too. Another thing that irks me too (and it just happened at Walmart) these big 4x4 extend-a-cab trucks parking on an angle taking up 2 spots of permit parking because their truck is too long for a normal spot... That big boy needs to be parked where it is NOT blocking a) another permit spot and b) general flow of traffic.
sewinggran 7/11/2012 8:14:26 PM ReportHighway Traffic Act R.S.O. 1990, CHAPTER H.8 CURRENT TO: Friday, July 6, 2012
“stand” or “standing”, when prohibited, means the halting of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except for the purpose of and while actually engaged in receiving or discharging passengers; (“immobilisation”)
Just Curious 7/11/2012 8:51:38 PM ReportThe only ones that annoy me are the ones painted on the asphalt... if there is no sign it means squat. There is one at the PUC building downtown and I will park there every time I go there. No signage,,,no rules...Tried to have a couple towed at 652 MacDonald a few years ago and because it wasn't a properly ordinanced sign,no could do. These expectant mother signs at Wal Mart never cease to piss me off too. No law about them and I park in them all the time...
chevy4x4 7/11/2012 10:27:59 PM ReportAnyone that parks in a handycap spot illegally (no permit) should be heavily fined regardless if its a sign on a post or a great big blue sign on the ground. If your too lazy to walk a few extra feet then stay home. For those people who park in the expectant mother parking space, your just ignorant. You try carrying around an extra thirty pounds on your middle and have to walk from the back of the parking because some fat ignorant jerk figured that he was more important then the women carrying a child. Have some respect for those that have a harder time getting around. One day it could be you or your family that needs to use these spaces and some ignorant jerk has taken them because hes just too damn lazy.
fishin4alivin 7/12/2012 12:47:32 AM ReportI often see family members take advantage of a loved ones parking permit. This is frustrating because they are the complainers. I have personally witnessed this.
RSC 7/12/2012 10:03:41 AM ReportHmmm...some really good discussion here. What I am hearing is that regardless of the situation or anyone's understanding (or misunderstanding) of signage and use of accessible parking spaces, that there is significant abuse of designated spaces. There will be continued abuse, but those that end up with a fine, will not continue to be the abusers. Thanks go to the police for doing a much overdue blitz of designated parking spaces.
Final note: let's all learn to live and play together nicely with respect for all!
teqsun 7/12/2012 3:59:19 PM ReportThese signs are enforceable Highway Traffic Act signs. The purpose of the No Standing sign is to allow persons with disabilities who display the Accessible Parking Permit to safely embark or disembark from the passenger side of a vehicle or from a Parabus. By the way, many passengers with disabilities choose not to use accessible parking spaces because they recognize that drivers with disabilities may not have the option to get dropped off.
FYI: an accessible parking permit is not issued for the vehicle it's for the person with the disability.
geterdun 7/13/2012 2:06:43 PM ReportThere are to many people with these permits.....I just watched a young girl park at a handicap spot get out of her car and run in the mall?????? not only that she left her child sitting in there....She didnt look handicapped to me as she was running????????even though she had a permit in her car........so lets see my mother or father gets a permit they stick it in there kids car because they dont have a car . The kids run around town parking as close as possible to the door so they dont have to walk LOL..yea the problem is the doctors who give these permits to people do not even check to see if they have a car or if they drive. its like everything else in society if you give people oppurtunity to cheat or decieve guess what they will.......as for the fine it should be 3,000 dollars not 300 and if you get caught with a fake permit you should be made to pay big time .........but as we know nothing will come of this.....cops cant even do the jobs they are suppose to do now ,do you really think they are going to enforce this NOT!!!!!!!!
Note: Comments that appear on the site are not the opinion of SooToday.com. Keep discussions civil and on topic. Refrain from obscenity and don't post anything that your grandmother would be ashamed to read. Those who do not abide by these guidelines will have their membership revoked without notice. If you see an abusive post, please click the link beside the post to report it.
