During their daily patrols, municipal guards check whether these spaces are occupied by authorised people. They also respond to residents’ reports concerning the unauthorised use of “disabled parking spaces”.

Officers also check whether these spaces are properly marked. If the markings raise doubts, the information is forwarded to the road manager or site administrator. Both parking cards (their validity) and the basis on which the driver is using the card are checked.

Unfortunately, irregularities or deficiencies in the markings do occur. This makes the guards’ work more difficult. Situations then arise in which both road users and officers conducting interventions have doubts related to incorrect or poorly legible markings. Municipal guards are then forced to discontinue the intervention and impose the legally prescribed consequences on the driver.

In addition to inspections, the guards also identify places where so-called disabled parking spaces could be designated. Municipal police officers also take part in campaigns aimed at “freeing up disabled parking spaces”.

Parking in so-called disabled parking spaces requires a special parking card. Since 1 July 2015, only new parking cards have been valid, authorising parking in so-called disabled parking spaces designated for vehicles of people with disabilities. Previous cards expired and no longer authorise parking in these spaces.

A parking card may be obtained by:

  • a person with a disability classified as having a significant or moderate degree of disability, with significantly limited ability to move independently;
  • a person with a disability under 16 years of age who has significantly limited ability to move independently;
  • an institution providing care, rehabilitation or education for people with disabilities who have significantly limited ability to move independently.

More information about obtaining a parking card can be found on the websites run by Integracja: www.kartaparkingowa.pl and on the www.niepelnosprawni.pl portal.

Under the applicable regulations, leaving a vehicle in a space designated for people with disabilities without a valid parking card is punishable by a PLN 500 fine. The driver will also receive 5 penalty points.

If a driver parks a vehicle in a space designated for people with disabilities and additionally uses a valid parking card without authorisation, they will be fined PLN 800 (using a parking card by unauthorised persons carries a PLN 300 fine).

Officers of authorised services, including the municipal guards, may also order the removal of a vehicle from a so-called disabled parking space at the owner’s expense.

On the SM Jelenia Góra website, more about how the guards help people with disabilities.

SM Jelenia Góra/ii