Parked vehicle with 'fake' disabled badge causes concern among Aussie drivers
- Replies 15
In the bustling car parks of Australia's shopping centres, a new controversy emerged and sparked heated debates among drivers.
A photo recently went viral on social media, which sounded the alarm for several advocacy groups and led to calls for greater awareness and law enforcement.
Shoppers at the Orion Shopping Centre spotted a Toyota Esquire Welcab bearing a wheelchair sticker and parked in the shopping centre's disabled spot.
The Toyota Esquire Welcab is a wheelchair-accessible vehicle from Japan specifically designed to transport individuals with disabilities.
However, the car was parked in the spot without a visible permit, sparking outrage from social media users and drivers in a social media group.
Members suggested that the sticker could be fake, possibly purchased online, in an attempt to exploit the system.
'Nice try,' one commented.
The lengths some people will go,' another wrote with concern.
However, as the conversation unfolded, the situation might not be as black-and-white as it first appeared.
Some commenters pointed out that the vehicle's design inherently indicated its purpose for disability transport, and the absence of a displayed permit could be an oversight.
'Of course, the permit must be shown when parking in these spots. I'm just pointing out that there is a much higher chance this was a case of forgetting rather than "buying off eBay,"' a commenter wrote.
'All we know is no permit is displayed, which is the same as not having one,' Disability lobbyist Peter Lane-Collett said.
'Yes they should have a permit, but let's be sensible and make sure we're not dragging down the very people we should be protecting here,' another comment read.
People with Disability Australia President and former Paralympian Marayke Jonkers reiterated this point.
She explained that Australia's national parking permit system—complete with personal identification and holograms—is difficult to counterfeit.
'It's highly likely that it is an illegally parked vehicle. Even if the vehicle owner is in possession of a legal parking permit, it needs to be displayed in the vehicle whenever the person with the disability is in the car, and a disabled parking spot is being used,' she reiterated.
'We can't have people circumventing the system with unofficial permits because the impact is already limited availability. If it's not in the official system, they lack the data to force the action that's sorely needed to boost supply, boost enforcement, and educate the community.'
The misuse of disabled parking spots is not a victimless crime—it impacts individuals with disabilities who rely on these spaces for accessibility and independence.
Common excuses such as 'I'm only stopping for a few minutes' or 'there's no one disabled here' are unacceptable and contribute to a culture of disregard for the needs of others.
Jonkers further advocated for community awareness and training on obtaining and using a valid permit.
She also suggested implementing a unified system to report and address parking violations efficiently and ensuring that disabled spots remain available for those in need.
It's important to respect disabled parking regulations.
If you or someone you know has a disability, ensure your permit is always visible when parking in designated spots.
If you witness a potential violation, don't hesitate to report it through the appropriate channels.
Have you encountered similar issues with disabled parking in your area? Share your experiences and thoughts on how we can improve the situation in the comments below.
A photo recently went viral on social media, which sounded the alarm for several advocacy groups and led to calls for greater awareness and law enforcement.
Shoppers at the Orion Shopping Centre spotted a Toyota Esquire Welcab bearing a wheelchair sticker and parked in the shopping centre's disabled spot.
The Toyota Esquire Welcab is a wheelchair-accessible vehicle from Japan specifically designed to transport individuals with disabilities.
However, the car was parked in the spot without a visible permit, sparking outrage from social media users and drivers in a social media group.
A Toyota Esquire Welcab took a disabled parking spot without a visible permit. Image Credit: Facebook/Kerry Reardon
Members suggested that the sticker could be fake, possibly purchased online, in an attempt to exploit the system.
'Nice try,' one commented.
The lengths some people will go,' another wrote with concern.
However, as the conversation unfolded, the situation might not be as black-and-white as it first appeared.
Some commenters pointed out that the vehicle's design inherently indicated its purpose for disability transport, and the absence of a displayed permit could be an oversight.
'Of course, the permit must be shown when parking in these spots. I'm just pointing out that there is a much higher chance this was a case of forgetting rather than "buying off eBay,"' a commenter wrote.
'All we know is no permit is displayed, which is the same as not having one,' Disability lobbyist Peter Lane-Collett said.
'Yes they should have a permit, but let's be sensible and make sure we're not dragging down the very people we should be protecting here,' another comment read.
People with Disability Australia President and former Paralympian Marayke Jonkers reiterated this point.
She explained that Australia's national parking permit system—complete with personal identification and holograms—is difficult to counterfeit.
'It's highly likely that it is an illegally parked vehicle. Even if the vehicle owner is in possession of a legal parking permit, it needs to be displayed in the vehicle whenever the person with the disability is in the car, and a disabled parking spot is being used,' she reiterated.
'We can't have people circumventing the system with unofficial permits because the impact is already limited availability. If it's not in the official system, they lack the data to force the action that's sorely needed to boost supply, boost enforcement, and educate the community.'
The misuse of disabled parking spots is not a victimless crime—it impacts individuals with disabilities who rely on these spaces for accessibility and independence.
Common excuses such as 'I'm only stopping for a few minutes' or 'there's no one disabled here' are unacceptable and contribute to a culture of disregard for the needs of others.
Jonkers further advocated for community awareness and training on obtaining and using a valid permit.
She also suggested implementing a unified system to report and address parking violations efficiently and ensuring that disabled spots remain available for those in need.
It's important to respect disabled parking regulations.
If you or someone you know has a disability, ensure your permit is always visible when parking in designated spots.
If you witness a potential violation, don't hesitate to report it through the appropriate channels.
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️ magnet. I do agree that something more visible is better by far though. Given the positioning, not many would see it.
