Hundreds of tickets issued for misusing accessible parking permits in Ottawa parking spaces

Accessible parking space abuse The City of Ottawa says tickets for illegally parking in handicap spaces are up 11 per cent this year. CTV's Natalie van Rooy reports.

Hundreds of tickets have been issued this fall to vehicles illegally parking in accessible parking spaces in Ottawa lots.

Bylaw Services says 490 tickets have been issued to vehicles illegally parked in accessible parking spaces since Oct. 1.

"We have noticed an increase in misuse of accessible parking spaces in our city," Bylaw Services said on X.

"No permit? No excuse."

The fine for misusing an accessible parking permit is $500.

On October 22, a bylaw officer checking accessible parking permits in a grocery store parking lot in Orléans issued seven tickets in a two-hour period.

Five tickets were issued for using a permit that belonged to someone else, while one driver was using a fake accessible parking permit.

Michael Lalonde, City of Ottawa Program Manager for Parking Control and Logistics, says the number of tickets handed out this year is up 11 per cent over last year.

"This year, to date, we've issued so far 2,701 parking tickets. The set fines for this infraction would be an early payment $400, and the set fine of $500."

Lalonde says they're seeing a lot of photocopied parking permits.

"What we are seeing also is a lot of these permits being photocopied, distributed because of the benefits that come with having an accessible parking space, even in the downtown spots or even in a general convenience store," Lalonde said. "So, we are seeing a lot of permits being duplicated and, and where the permit holders not with the vehicle or with the driver."

Other cases include expired permits that have been altered to hide the date.

"I just think people are busy and it's convenient to for just five minutes of parking a spot, but not taking the consideration of the needs for someone who actually might need that spot because of their accessibility needs," he said.

Kyle Humphrey is an Ottawa resident with accessibility needs and says he's happy to see the city cracking down.

"I am so grateful that things are finally being tackled. The number of times I have pulled into a spot ... or tried to pull into a spot and had someone there, who didn't need the spot, or who had their parents pass," he said. "It means no Christmas shopping for me. It means no going to see friends. It means basically not being able to get out of the car. And, yeah, I mean, someone might be able to drop someone off and I have the luxury of being able to hold my chair while I go somewhere… But there are parents with children who require these spaces."

"The people that lose out of all this are the people who actually need the spots, who took the time to go get their doctor and get this permit, and who still want to enjoy their life and basically go to these stores with the same rights that we all do," said Lalonde.

"I think it's more important now than ever that we consider people's accessibility and specialist parking spots in the future."

--With files from CTV News Ottawa's Natalie van Rooy