A reader sent us a photo of a BMW car that someone carelessly parked in a space designated for people with disabilities. It turns out, however, that this is not an isolated case. “We intervene in this matter practically every day,” Kamila Chalewicz, deputy commander of the Bolesławiec Municipal Police, told the IstotneInformacje.pl portal. Kamila Chalewicz Drivers are not deterred even by the fact that such an offense carries a PLN 100 fine.
Plac Piłsudskiego and Sądowa Street, in particular – that is where municipal police officers intervene most often. “We are working to make this happen less and less frequently,” emphasizes Emil Zając, commander of the Municipal Police. – “It is one of our priorities.” Since 2005, Bolesławiec municipal police officers have participated in a parking campaign under the slogan: “Would you really want to be in our place?”
“This is how our citizens approach compliance with the law,” comments Mr Jan from Bolesławiec, a driver who has had a disability since birth. “It seems that taking a space for a person with a disability is not very harmful. One changes one’s mind when one finds oneself on the other side of the barrier,” he adds. For a fully able-bodied person, walking an additional few metres is usually not a problem. For a person with a disability, covering this distance, especially in winter, can be a real challenge.
The situation may soon change. The government plans to increase penalties for parking in spaces designated for people with disabilities. Once the new regulations come into force, this offense will carry a PLN 500 fine.
(ii information)
Updated 2008-10-06 12:51
Below we publish a photo submitted by our reader.
