As part of its latest efforts to build a friendly environment for the physically challenged, the Taipei City Government’s Parking Management and Development Office has installed sensors at three public parking lots in the city to prevent non-disabled drivers from occupying parking spaces for the disabled.
The detection devices, installed at parking lots in Shilin District’s (士林) Chengde Park and Xinyi District’s (信義) Xinyi Elementary School and Zhongxin Park, will notify the office when cars are parked in reserved spots and remind staff to confirm the identity of the drivers.
Chen Kuan-lung (陳冠龍), a division chief at the office, said the new measure was aimed at preventing the occupation of reserved parking spaces more effectively, as many physically challenged drivers had complained that fines had not improved the situation.
“The detection device helps us stop people from occupying disabled parking spaces, so the spaces can be reserved for people who need them,” he said.
Statistics from the office showed that the number of inappropriately occupied disabled parking spaces in public parking lots reached 657 last year.
In the more than 100 public parking lots in the city, there are four to five spaces reserved for disabled parking.
According to Sheng Shu-hsian (沈淑賢), chief secretary of the office, the office will expand the measure to all public parking lots in three months in a bid to create a better environment for the disabled.
The office also installed service bells in front of each disabled parking space at the three parking lots. Drivers who need assistance from staff can push the service bell button and receive immediate help, she said.
Drivers who occupy disabled spaces illegally can face a fine of NT$1,200.
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