December 3, 2019 is observed as the International Day of Disabled Persons, and in Israel, it remains all too commonplace that a disabled motorist cannot park – because the space designated for disabled motorists has been blocked.

This problem is regularly faced by disabled drivers, as a reserved space is often taken by a driver without a disabled permit. At times, a sidewalk curb is low enough to permit a disabled driver to park on a sidewalk, but this is not always the case.

The Ohr Yarok (Green Light) NGO in May 2019 requested to know how many summonses city inspectors in large cities across Israel issued for illegal parking in a handicapped parking space.

From 2013 to 2018, checking the data in Jerusalem, 30,415 summonses were issued for parking in a handicapped spot without authorization, with the highest number being 2018, when 7,119 summonses were issued, with city officials explaining they are working hard to get the message out to one and all – don’t park in a handicapped designated spot without authorization.

The fine for such an offense is steep, NIS 1,000.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)