For Winnipeg mom Cindy McKague, seeing someone parked in an accessible spot illegally makes her blood boil.
Her seven-year-old son, Caleb, has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair most of the time. McKague says those accessible spaces make it much easier for her family.
“These spots are there for a reason,” she said.
McKague frequently sees people using those spots illegally and she’s sick of the excuses.
“They were just waiting, only picking someone up, only running in for a second,” she said. “Usually people are embarrassed by being caught. To them, it’s not a big deal, but for someone who really does need it, it’s a big deal.”
The City of Winnipeg handed out 4,261 tickets for people who illegally parked in those spaces in 2017. So far this year the city has handed out 1,972.
Jonathan Dionne of the Society for Manitobans with Disabilities, said his office receives complaints nearly daily.
“We hear between four and five times a week about this,” he said. “Part of me feels like as a community we need to take care of each other and understand that these spots are there for people who require them.”
It didn’t take long for Global News to find someone parked illegally. Maurice was parked downtown on Portage Avenue during rush hour traffic.
“My wife was going in there and I’m just waiting for her,” he said ruefully. “It’s not an excuse.”
Raelene Recksiedler takes photos when she sees someone parked illegally. She requires an accessible spot for medical issues and shares the photos she captures on social media.
“By the time … I would get to here I would be exhausted and need to sit and try and rejuvenate my energy,” she said.
If people get caught parking illegally in one of those spots, they will be hit with a $300 fine. But the rules around who enforces which area are not clear.
The city monitors public property and some private lots, but a city spokesperson said “it’s not black and white” about which private properties the city keeps an eye on and which private lots aren’t.
“The Winnipeg Parking Authority enforces parking violations on some private property locations such as shopping malls, grocery stores and casinos, provided the correct universal disabled signage is in place. In some instances, if a shopping mall has their own system to enforce, then the city does not enforce those lots.”
Vernon Pritchard has trouble walking and he said he sees someone parked in an accessible spot illegally at least once a week.
“Obviously they’re not handicapped and maybe if they could temporarily experience what it’s like they wouldn’t park in those spots,” he said.
The city says people can call 311 to report vehicles parked in designated disabled spaces so then the city can track and address any reoccurring spots.
Top spots for citations issued in 2018:
- Rorie Street: 330
- McPhillips Street (Station Casino): 213
- Notre Dame Avenue: 151
- McDermot Avenue: 134
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