The Disabled Persons’ Parking Places (Scotland) Act 2009, was designed to prevent unauthorised people parking in designated accessible parking spaces. The aim of the Act is to give greater powers to local authorities to designate spaces exclusively for disabled users. Prior to this Act, Scottish local authorities found it was impossible to enforce 85% of the designated space.
All the Scottish local authorities will need to identify every existing accessible parking bay in its area, and establish whether it is still required. If it is, the traffic order process must be started by 1 October 2010, making the restriction enforceable. If it is no longer required all signage must be removed.
Councils will also be required to negotiate with owners and operators of private car parks, such as supermarkets, to negotiate an agreement to make accessible parking places enforceable.
