This obscure parking permit is causing confusion among Aussies
By
VanessaC
- Replies 11
Parking comes with a lot of rules and regulations, and they’re not always easy to understand, as one Melbourne resident recently pointed out when he spotted a car seemingly in the wrong place.
Tom Petrus uploaded an image of a car parked at a spot designated for disabled persons, and on the dashboard, there could be seen a green square with ‘PX2’ printed in large white text.
Apparently, the object—which is a permit—comes with special double-time parking privileges, but it’s little-known, leaving many Aussies wondering what it’s all about.
The permit, also known as Double Time (DT) Permits, is unique to Victoria and was issued to around 26,000 residents who have limited mobility. It allows the permit holder to park in a standard parking bay for double the time listed on the parking sign.
According to a spokesperson from the Department of Transport and Planning: 'Everyone has different accessibility needs—there are many people that have limited mobility but do use a wheelchair or mobility aid, or require accessible parking bays.'
'No matter the activity—our double-time parking permits allow people to park in standard bays for double the time outlined on the parking sign, offering additional support for people who need more time to get where they need to go.'
Tom said he was curious to know more about the permit after seeing it in use, also detailing his worry that some people might be taking advantage of it..
'Many people who once had a disabled parking permit now do not fit that criteria and still park in disabled parking spaces when they shouldn't,' Petrus said.
'The legislation on the surface is clear. However, those who have been downgraded to a 2X are either ignoring the correspondence sent to them or believe their permit is still the same,' he added.
Moreover, the City of Melbourne's official website said: 'A DT permit does not allow the permit holder to park in an area reserved only for people with disabilities. These parking areas are designated for [ADP] permit holders only.'
'An ADP permit holder may park a vehicle in a parking bay reserved for people with disabilities for the specified time limit only. This means an ADP permit holder must not park continuously in a parking area for people with disabilities for longer than the period indicated on the sign.'
So how do you know if you’re eligible for a double-time parking permit?
According to the Department of Transport and Planning, to be considered for the DT permit, you must have a general practitioner (GP) or Occupational Therapist (OT) verify that you have difficulty walking more than 100 metres and need to take breaks when walking from point A to point B.
'These permits allow access to the community for patients whose disability results in these restrictions,' The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Specific Interest Disability Chair Dr Robert Davis said.
'GPs are well placed to provide verification of the wide range of conditions which include general frailty, neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, developmental and psychiatric problems.'
Tom acknowledged the benefits the permit could bring and said he was sharing the story in the hope that more people would be aware of the conditions of the permit so that disabled spots were only taken up by those who needed them.
One user shared how they became eligible for the permit saying: 'My daughter has one, she was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 41 this year and had a mastectomy 3 weeks later.'
'She has been told by the doctors not to exert herself so they told her to apply for one of these ones and she was approved.'
The Victorian double-time permit was introduced in 2021 by the Commonwealth in an effort to coordinate accessible parking permit schemes nationwide, and each state and territory offers slightly different rules for their disability schemes, tailored to meet the needs of their communities.
In other states, disabled persons are allowed parking for longer periods than what is posted on the sign only if they have a disability parking permit.
If you or someone you know is eligible for a DT parking permit, share this article with them to raise awareness of its limitations.
What are your thoughts on this story, members? Let us know in the comments below!
Tom Petrus uploaded an image of a car parked at a spot designated for disabled persons, and on the dashboard, there could be seen a green square with ‘PX2’ printed in large white text.
Apparently, the object—which is a permit—comes with special double-time parking privileges, but it’s little-known, leaving many Aussies wondering what it’s all about.
The permit, also known as Double Time (DT) Permits, is unique to Victoria and was issued to around 26,000 residents who have limited mobility. It allows the permit holder to park in a standard parking bay for double the time listed on the parking sign.
According to a spokesperson from the Department of Transport and Planning: 'Everyone has different accessibility needs—there are many people that have limited mobility but do use a wheelchair or mobility aid, or require accessible parking bays.'
'No matter the activity—our double-time parking permits allow people to park in standard bays for double the time outlined on the parking sign, offering additional support for people who need more time to get where they need to go.'
Tom said he was curious to know more about the permit after seeing it in use, also detailing his worry that some people might be taking advantage of it..
'Many people who once had a disabled parking permit now do not fit that criteria and still park in disabled parking spaces when they shouldn't,' Petrus said.
'The legislation on the surface is clear. However, those who have been downgraded to a 2X are either ignoring the correspondence sent to them or believe their permit is still the same,' he added.
Moreover, the City of Melbourne's official website said: 'A DT permit does not allow the permit holder to park in an area reserved only for people with disabilities. These parking areas are designated for [ADP] permit holders only.'
'An ADP permit holder may park a vehicle in a parking bay reserved for people with disabilities for the specified time limit only. This means an ADP permit holder must not park continuously in a parking area for people with disabilities for longer than the period indicated on the sign.'
So how do you know if you’re eligible for a double-time parking permit?
According to the Department of Transport and Planning, to be considered for the DT permit, you must have a general practitioner (GP) or Occupational Therapist (OT) verify that you have difficulty walking more than 100 metres and need to take breaks when walking from point A to point B.
'These permits allow access to the community for patients whose disability results in these restrictions,' The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Specific Interest Disability Chair Dr Robert Davis said.
'GPs are well placed to provide verification of the wide range of conditions which include general frailty, neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, developmental and psychiatric problems.'
Tom acknowledged the benefits the permit could bring and said he was sharing the story in the hope that more people would be aware of the conditions of the permit so that disabled spots were only taken up by those who needed them.
One user shared how they became eligible for the permit saying: 'My daughter has one, she was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 41 this year and had a mastectomy 3 weeks later.'
'She has been told by the doctors not to exert herself so they told her to apply for one of these ones and she was approved.'
The Victorian double-time permit was introduced in 2021 by the Commonwealth in an effort to coordinate accessible parking permit schemes nationwide, and each state and territory offers slightly different rules for their disability schemes, tailored to meet the needs of their communities.
In other states, disabled persons are allowed parking for longer periods than what is posted on the sign only if they have a disability parking permit.
Key Takeaways
- A little-known green double-time parking permit, marked with a 'PX2', is causing confusion for some drivers in Victoria.
- The permit allows holders with limited mobility to park in standard bays for double the time outlined on the parking sign, but it does not permit them to park in disabled parking bays.
- The permit has sparked discussions about the misuse of disabled parking bays, with some people believing permit holders are ignoring the conditions of the permit.
- The permits were introduced in 2021 as part of the Commonwealth’s move to coordinate accessible parking permit schemes across Australia, with Victoria adopting it as an added measure to meet minimum requirements.
What are your thoughts on this story, members? Let us know in the comments below!