'Nothing makes you angrier': Manitoba couple wants steeper fines for parking scofflaws

A Manitoba couple that has been married for 39 yearssays there needs to be steeper fines, better signage and more enforcement for scofflaws who are illegally parking in spaces reserved for people with disabilities.

"Nothing makes you angrier than that," said Ken Miller, 65. "That inconveniences you and they shouldn't be doing it."

His wife Cheryl Miller, 61, has been living with multiple sclerosis her entire adult life. She thinks people who are taking advantage of the spaces don't have a great sense of what it means to people with disabilities.

"I don't think they think about that, no, unless they have a spouse or close family member that's going through the same things as I do," she said. "I get quite annoyed because I think, 'Are you handicap? Like, why are you parking in that spot?"

Ken said finding accessible parking in Manitoba has been a constant frustration in recent years due toinconsiderate drivers, and he thinks it's timeto move to harsher financial penalties for law-breakers.

Woman with multiple sclerosis wants steeper fines for drivers caught illegally parking in spaces for people with disabilities

7 years ago

Duration 1:49

Cheryl Miller, 61, and her husband Ken Miller, 65, say local governments need to move to harsher fines, better signage and increased enforcement in order to deter people who are illegally parking in spaces for those with disabilities.

"I couldn't agree any more," said Jonathan Dionne, director of provincial services with the Society for Manitobans with Disabilities.

"I think the increased amount that people would pay for an infraction like that would obviously be a bigger deterrent."

Right now, illegally parking in spaces designated for people with disabilities lands drivers a $150 fine in Winnipeg, and that doubles to $300 if the ticket isn't paid in 15 days.A spokesperson with Manitoba Sustainable Development said fines in provincial parks areas high as $65, although that is reduced if paid early.

Permits are available to anyone who has difficulty walking greater than 50 metres unaided by the likes of a wheelchair, cane or other support.

1,163 tickets in summer crackdown

A spokesperson with the city told CBC News that a campaign cracking down on illegal parking in school and fire zones, as well as spaces for people with disabilities, has had a positive impact since it launched this spring.

Between May and and mid-August, the city doled out 1,163 tickets to drivers caught parking in spaces designated for people with disabilities.

"Early indications from our officers are that the increased emphasis on the issue of illegal parking in designated spaces has been successful," the spokesperson wrote in an email.

"However, as this is an ongoing problem we will continue to watch long-term trends to determine the effectiveness of the program."

Ken Miller said he has complained to his local MLA, Minister of Crown Services Ron Schuler (St. Paul), as well as officials with the Society for Manitobans with Disabilities, the organization that oversees the permit program in the province.

Dionne said he appreciates the efforts of staff with the Winnipeg Parking Authority to clamp down on people parking illegally, but he feels Miller's concerns are still valid.

"It's constant. The highest number of our complaints come from that: people parking in accessible parking spots without a placard," Dionne said.

Worse in private lots

The Millers say the issue is worse in private lots than it is in public spaces. The couple routinely encounters drivers parked illegally at grocers and big box stores in particular.

Their experience squares with what Dionne and his colleagues see in the form of complaints.

"Definitely there is more complaints around private lots," Dionnesaid.

Cheryl has enough on her plate with her disability that she shouldn't have to worry about getting a parking spot.- Ken Miller

"Private lots are only enforced by the authorities if they have an agreement with the owner of that lot. So, in the public areas of parking they're enforced regularly, so is there a correlation between the two? I don't know for sure but that would make sense."

Miller argues that if the parking authority had more staff on patrol that figure of 1,163 tickets would be much higher.

A city spokesperson said there are between five and 35 patrol officers on shift in Winnipeg depending on the day, and parking rules are the same for all drivers, regardless of whether on public or private land.

About 18 foot-patrol officers monitor meters downtownand in the areas surrounding the Health Sciences Centre, where there are35 on-street spots for permit-holders spread across 27 locations. Members of the parking authority's 15 mobile patrol units focus on high traffic locations and"regularly visit locations where disabled parking spaces are present," including at malls, casinos and grocery stores, the city spokesperson said.

Asked whether it is the responsibility of managers or owners of commercial businesses to report illegal parkers,the spokesperson suggested they submit a request for service from the parking authority if they find people illegally using the spaces.

Day in the life

Ken Miller said on a recent trip the couple took to Maui, Hawaii, he noticed fines for illegal parking in public places ranged as high as $500, and the fine amount was clearly advertised.

He says if Manitoba doesn't take note of how other jurisdictions are combating the issue and adjust accordingly, things could get worse as more baby boomers begin applying for parking permits.

"Sometimes you don't think about it because you don't have that disabilitiy," Ken Miller siad. "I would wish they would go through a day we go though and see how difficult it is.

"Cheryl has enough on her plate with her disability that she shouldn't have to worry about getting a parking spot."

More from CBC Manitoba: