ALMOST 600 drivers have been caught using lost, stolen or invalid disability parking permits since February 15. 

In a month, from February 15 to March 15, Access Canberra handed out 272 infringements for misuse of disability parking permits. Then, another 307 infringements were issued up until June 15.

Mostly, fraudulent use is due to people, other than the permit holder, using the permit when the permit holder is not in the vehicle, according to Access Canberra’s director of parking operations and traffic camera compliance Chris Seddon.

“Disability parking permits are issued to the person with the disability not the vehicle,” he says.

“For example, if a driver drops off a permit holder in say Woden, the driver is not entitled to use the permit in Civic without the permit holder being with them.”

Mr Seddon says it’s also illegal to use the permit of a person who has passed away.

He says technology now allows parking inspectors to interrogate data while on patrol and can check for the use of invalid disability permits or those that have been reported lost or stolen.

And, if a vehicle is parked in a disabled car bay with a lost, stolen, expired or deceased person’s permit, the driver of that vehicle will be given a $600 fine.

For drivers using a lost, stolen, expired or deceased persons permit in timed or pay parking bay, the fine is $120.

“If permit holders report a parking permit as lost and then find it later, they should hand in the lost permit at an Access Canberra Service Centre because anyone found displaying a lost permit will be issued with a parking fine,” Mr Seddon says.