Report By: ctvbc.ca
Date: Wednesday Apr. 20, 2011 8:11 PM ET

The abuse of designated handicapped parking spaces is on the rise but the enforcement of it isn't, a CTV News investigation has revealed.

Our cameras captured many people breaking the law. While some people said they were just using the space to wait for a friend, others admitted they were using the parking pass of a handicapped relative.
CTV investigative reporters tested how rigorous handicapped enforcement is by parking a car without the disabled pass in three different locations, making sure not to take the last spot.
At each location, the car was in the disabled space for more than an hour without any repercussions.
Advocates are not surprised.
While municipalities require property owners to provide a certain number of disabled spaces, after that it's up to the private owners to provide enforcement.
"It's really tokenism if it's not enforced," said Jane Dyson of the B.C. Coalition of People with Disabilities.
There are more than 100,000 people in the province with disabled passes, a number that is set to increase with our aging Baby Boomers.
Unfortunately, the agency that issues the passes has no power to enforce their use.
"We have no access to any other systems, including the licence plate database from ICBC," said the manager of accessibility programs for the Social Planning and Research Council of B.C. "We can't identify people who are doing so."
SPARC said it receives up to 15 complaints a day about the people who use disabled parking spots – a marked increase in the past two years.
CTV News contacted the three companies that failed our parking enforcement test.
While they said they do ticket and tow violators, none would go on camera. The companies said they would be talking to their security team about the issues CTV raised.
The city of Richmond is investigating the parking concerns in their city and could be taking action.
"There's a whole variety of actions possible that range everywhere from education and awareness to enforcement. And the business owners should be stepping up to make sure that doesn't happen," said city spokesperson Ted Townsend.
In the meantime, people with disabilities want to remind the public that a handicapped spot can be a rare and precious commodity.
"It is a great deal of trouble if you're in a wheelchair and you can't find a parking spot," said wheelchair user Bernie Tague.

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Report By: ctvbc.ca
Date: Tuesday Apr. 19, 2011 6:52 PM ET

The agency in charge of issuing disabled parking passes says that abuse of designated spaces is on the rise, and a CTV News investigation has captured a string of scofflaws in the act.

The Social Planning and Research Council of B.C. gets as many as 15 complaints a day about the people who use disabled parking spots.
"Within the last year or two we have seen an increase," said the manager of accessibility programs for SPARC.
With more baby-boomers aging and in need of preferred parking, she says the problem is getting worse all the time.
Wheelchair user Bernie Tague was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 30 years ago. Although he can no longer walk, he's still able to drive, but just getting behind the wheel takes a lot of effort.
Tague says it's frustrating to find designated parking spots used up by people without passes.
"It's a lot of trouble getting around if you are disabled anyway," he said. "I don't have a lot of choices, and it's very difficult when someone else is parked there."
In three hours stationed in parking lots in Richmond and Vancouver, CTV News cameras caught three people unfairly making use of disabled parking spots.
A young woman with two kids and a disabled parking pass complained that the designated spots at Richmond Centre mall are often full.
"A lot of people do park in them that don't have a handicapped sticker, just for convenience I guess," she said. "I think that's horrible. I think it should be used for people that need it."
But she admitted that she's not actually disabled -- the parking pass is for her mother.
After a few minutes chatting with an investigative reporter, she felt guilty and decided to move her car.
As she pulled away, another car without a parking pass pulled into a designated spot. The couple in the car said they were just waiting for a friend.
At Lansdowne Mall, a woman without a pass told CTV News she just stopped for a second after spotting a friend.
The responsibility to enforce use of disabled parking spots falls on property owners. Richmond Centre management told CTV News they will tow offenders, but they couldn't say how many times they have actually done that.
Jane Dyson of the B.C. Coalition of People with Disabilities says that very little is done to prevent non-disabled people from using designated spots.
"There's so little enforcement that people with disabilities really start to give up about complaining because nothing is ever done about it," she said.

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Burnaby BC; December 9, 2009 – SPARC BC (Social Planning and Research Council of BC) is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Executive Director, Lorraine Copas, effective December 14, 2009. Lorraine comes to SPARC BC from Metro Vancouver where she served as the Senior Regional Planner and was instrumental in leading their Regional Affordable Housing Strategy.

Lorraine brings to SPARC BC extensive knowledge and experience working in the areas of research, social policy, and affordable housing, as well as the non-profit and government sectors. Her experience also includes community-based research on a broad range of topics including housing stability, family well-being, and income and social mix which will be invaluable in this new role.

Speaking on behalf of the Board of Directors, Derek Gent, President of SPARC BC says “Lorraine excels in her experience and passion for evidence-based approaches to achieving social change and her capacity to translate strategies into action. We are very excited about working with Lorraine.”

SPARC BC is a non-partisan, independent charitable organization focused on positive change in the key social issues of income security, accessibility, and community development. By providing research services, consulting, advocacy, and the Parking Permit Program for People with Disabilities, SPARC BC works with communities in building a just and healthy society for all.

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