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Lawrence Square Gets it Wrong

Ontario provides Handicapped Parking Passes to those who deserve them. A doctor has to sign the request for one to receive these passes, issued by the Ministry of Transportation in Ontario (MTO). That makes parking as close to the doors as possible, viable for people with mobility issues.

Problem is abuse of the system. August 14th at Lawrence Square the abuse was jarring. This reporter watched as an individual parked his car, turned on his hazards, and then struggled to walk into Canadian Tire at Lawrence Square. Yes, he was illegally parked right outside the store.

His problem was all of the disabled parking spots, closest to Canadian Tire, were taken. As this reporter watched the scene unfold two people returned to their disabled parking spots. The first, an able bodied woman, lit her cigarette before driving away in her SVU. Then a man, with a sharp pair of fashion sunglasses, quickly walked to his car and drove away. Neither of them had mobility issues so what were they doing in parking that is clearly meant for those who are physically challenged?

The Accessible Parking Permit is issued in the name of the holder, or person with the disability requiring it. It clearly states on the reverse side, "This Accessible Parking Permit is valid when used only by the person to whom it is issued". As stated on the MTO's web site:

The individual to whom the permit is issued must be in the vehicle and the permit must be visibly displayed on the dashboard or sun visor when it is parked in the designated accessible parking space. The permit holder may use the permit in any vehicle in which they are traveling.

Next on the scene that day was security for Lawrence Square, who proceeded to write a ticket for the disabled man; who had no choice but to park illegally. The spots that should have been available to him weren't because of the selfish acts of others.

Lawrence Square Property Management was called on the day of the incident. Details were provided including the license plate of the poor guy who was ticketed because of the selfish acts of others, making it impossible for him to use the parking spots that should have been available for him with his walking issues. What is worse is the security guard didn't bother to check the disabled parking spots, to see if those parked there actually had the passes enabling them to do so legally. If either of the two selfish individual had Accessible Parking Permits neither were clearly visible. Both had left before the security guard came out but as all spots in the vicinity were taken the security could have walked a few feet and issues tickets to actual violators of the law.

Emna Dhahak, media spokesperson for the Ministry of Transportation issuer of the Handicapped Parking passes said, the ubiquitous bureaucrat response, "I cannot comment on specific situations or examples", and then suggested, "have you been to our website?". Expecting a bureaucrat to take ownership is a stretch. Adding, "it's not us, it's the police ... who will issue a ticket to that person." She did add in reference to the two who had illegally used the Handicapped Parking Spots, "you're not supposed to do that." This was private security are they entitled to do such a thing? "I wouldn't know about that", said the media contact for the Ministry of Transportation. Well who gets the money? "I cannot answer all of these questions." Isn't that her job? Dhahak did some research, unable to answer who gets the money from misuse of the parking passes issued by the Ministry of Transportation and via email responded, "Response for both is the municipality/city laying the charge." Asked, "in the case where someone is inappropriately ticketed what redress does the public have?" Dhahak, despite promising to reply to all of our questions via email ignored this question.

Given this reporter can provide independent information that should negate this ticket, we are following up with Lawrence Square Property Management. Despite promising to return our call after their investigation they have yet to do so.