The parking fine that could now cost you $533
A Queensland parking fine has been doubled with warnings that drivers found breaching the rule will be “harshly penalised”.
The Queensland government announced on Tuesday that the fine for drivers who illegally park in disability parking area will be doubled from $266 to $533.
“Drivers who illegally occupy disability parking spaces should expect to be harshly penalised,” Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey said in a statement.
“Expanding the permit criteria to include people who are legally blind means about 18,000 more Queenslanders could require these spaces.
“We believe there are enough spaces to cater for that added demand, but we also need to hit the message home that taking up spaces reserved for people with a disability is unacceptable.
“It’s arrogant and selfish behaviour that the community does not support.”
The fine hike will be applied next year.
In the same announcement, it is also revealed that disability parking permits will be expanded to people with vision impairments from mid-2020.
“Queenslanders with vision-impairment and their carers have shared their stories with me about how challenging it can be to negotiate busy car parks,” said Bailey.
“They felt the current laws, which were introduced in 1998, ignored their situation and I think that’s a fair assessment.”
Minister for Communities, Disability Services and Seniors Coralee O’Rourke said the expansion will provide vision-impaired drivers with safer and more convenient access in car parks across the state.
“The changes will bring Queensland into line with New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, which both include legal blindness as a criteria in their permit schemes,” O’Rourke said.
The state government is also cracking down on use of mobile phones behind the wheels, as the current penalty of $400 is set to be increased to $1,000 from February 1. Drivers caught twice within a year will risk losing their licence.
“They are the toughest laws in Australia ... because this problem has been escalating,” Bailey told ABC radio on Thursday.
“The safest thing for people to do is to change their behaviour right now because that means safer roads.”