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11/10/2007
Pensioners Ticketed For Blue Badge Error
Following on from news earlier this week that the privatised parking enforcement company NCP, issued over 140,000 tickets for illegal parking, raising more than £4 million, two elderly women have each been fined after displaying their disabled parking permits incorrectly.
Elizabeth Breen (79), who is being treated for cancer, and Anne Austin (72), who is recovering from surgery on her knee, were hit with the fines after accidentally leaving their blue badges back to front on the dashboards of their cars.
On returning to the vehicle, they discovered they had been issued with a parking ticket.
Their daughter, Helen McNutt, said: "I ran after the traffic warden and asked her what was wrong and she told me the badge had been displayed the wrong way round, but it doesn't actually say anything on the badge about what way it should be.
"It seems crazy. There should be something on the badge telling you how it should be displayed. Mum is going through chemotherapy at the moment and my dad has diabetes and they both could have done without the stress.
"They are both on a state pension and £30 is a lot of money. They would have to pay £60 if it wasn't paid within two weeks.”
Ms Austin, who uses a walking stick, was helping a friend - who has had a stroke - out of her car in Ballycastle town centre when she was issued with a parking ticket for failing to display her blue badge correctly whilst parked in a disabled bay.
"I was only gone for about 10 minutes and when I got back I saw the woman writing the ticket and when I asked her what was wrong she told me the badge was on the wrong way," she said.
A Department of Regional Development spokeswoman said the wardens had followed procedures by issuing the tickets.
(BMcC)
Elizabeth Breen (79), who is being treated for cancer, and Anne Austin (72), who is recovering from surgery on her knee, were hit with the fines after accidentally leaving their blue badges back to front on the dashboards of their cars.
On returning to the vehicle, they discovered they had been issued with a parking ticket.
Their daughter, Helen McNutt, said: "I ran after the traffic warden and asked her what was wrong and she told me the badge had been displayed the wrong way round, but it doesn't actually say anything on the badge about what way it should be.
"It seems crazy. There should be something on the badge telling you how it should be displayed. Mum is going through chemotherapy at the moment and my dad has diabetes and they both could have done without the stress.
"They are both on a state pension and £30 is a lot of money. They would have to pay £60 if it wasn't paid within two weeks.”
Ms Austin, who uses a walking stick, was helping a friend - who has had a stroke - out of her car in Ballycastle town centre when she was issued with a parking ticket for failing to display her blue badge correctly whilst parked in a disabled bay.
"I was only gone for about 10 minutes and when I got back I saw the woman writing the ticket and when I asked her what was wrong she told me the badge was on the wrong way," she said.
A Department of Regional Development spokeswoman said the wardens had followed procedures by issuing the tickets.
(BMcC)
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21 February 2006
Transport Minister welcomes 'Baywatch' campaign
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Transport Minister Shaun Woodward has today welcomed the launch of the 'Baywatch' Northern Ireland campaign, which highlights parking problems faced by disabled drivers in Northern Ireland. The Transport Minister said: "I welcome this campaign to increase awareness about how bad parking behaviour can compromise access for disabled people.
28 June 2002
BVCB workshop highlights Belfast's best events
Employees in the service and tourism sector have taken part in an innovative new workshop organised by the Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau (BVCB).
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09 October 2007
Tickets Bonanza On Parking
A year after responsibility for parking fines moved from the police to the Department for Regional Development (DRD), more than 140,000 tickets for illegal parking have been issued. New statistics show that since parking enforcement moved from the PSNI last October, 143,564 parking tickets were issued by DRD-contracted National Car Parks wardens.
Tickets Bonanza On Parking
A year after responsibility for parking fines moved from the police to the Department for Regional Development (DRD), more than 140,000 tickets for illegal parking have been issued. New statistics show that since parking enforcement moved from the PSNI last October, 143,564 parking tickets were issued by DRD-contracted National Car Parks wardens.
08 October 2007
More Tickets For Illegal Parking
Over 140,000 illegal parkers have received parking tickets since the Department for Regional Development (DRD) became responsible for parking enforcement on 30 October 2006. Since NCP Services started enforcing restrictions on behalf of DRD 143,564 tickets were given out between 13 November 2006 and 30 September 2007.
More Tickets For Illegal Parking
Over 140,000 illegal parkers have received parking tickets since the Department for Regional Development (DRD) became responsible for parking enforcement on 30 October 2006. Since NCP Services started enforcing restrictions on behalf of DRD 143,564 tickets were given out between 13 November 2006 and 30 September 2007.
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