How will new legislation address the issue of parking license disks for the disabled?

Question:

My sister has contacted the local municipality responsible for issuing Disabled License Discs.This is a renewal not a new application, she was told that they would have to print the registration of her vehicle on the disc, and they are not allowed to issue more than one disc per person for any other vehicles.

This makes absolutely no sense, because that confines her to the use of only one vehicle. She owns 3. She also works in an environment which requires her to use different pool vehicles at any given time.

Please advise as there must be a way to resolve this because it is not practical or helpful to her situation.

Answer:

Reg 305A to D will hopefully address the matter once it is implemented.Parking for person with disability

305A.     A person—

(a)          whose mobility is severely impaired by a chronic neurological or physiological condition; or

(b)          whose mobility is temporarily but severely impaired,

may apply to a MEC of the province concerned to be exempt from any provisions relating to the parking of motor vehicles in the area of jurisdiction of any local authorities in that Province.

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Application for parking exemption

1. (1)              For the purposes of this part, “occupational health practitioner” means an occupational medical practitioner or a person who holds a qualification in occupational health recognised as such by the Health Professions Council of South Africa as referred to in the Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974).

(2)           An application for exemption from the provisions relating to parking shall be made on form AEP as shown in schedule 2 and shall be accompanied by-

(a)          acceptable identification of the applicant;

(b)          the appropriate fees as determined by the Minister; and

(c)           form AEP as shown in schedule 2, completed by an occupational health practitioner, stating the disability of the applicant.

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Issue of parking exemption certificate

305C.     (1)         On receipt of the application referred to in regulation 305A the local authority shall satisfy itself that the application is in order and may issue an exemption certificate on form ECP as shown in schedule 2, to the applicant.

(2)           The holder of an exemption certificate referred to in subregulation (1) shall display such certificate-

(a)           if the motor vehicle is fitted with transparent windscreen, in a transparent protection holder, in an upright position on the inside of the windscreen in such a manner that the print on the face of the exemption certificate is clearly legible from the outside to a person standing in front or to the left front of such vehicle;

(b)          if the motor vehicle is not fitted with a transparent windscreen, in a conspicuous position on the left front side of such motor vehicle in such a manner that the print on the face of such certificate is legible from that side’ or

(c)           if such exemption certificate is required to be displayed on a motor vehicle in a position where it is exposed to the weather, such certificate shall be protected by affixing it to the inside of the transparent front of a durable watertight holder.

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Period of validity for the parking exemption

1.      An exemption granted in terms of section 80 of the Act is valid for-

(a)          an undetermined period where the mobility of the applicant is permanently impaired; or

(b)         a period as recommended by the occupation health practitioner referred to in regulation 305B where the mobility of the applicant is temporarily impaired: Provided that the period for a temporary exemption shall not exceed 12 months.

• Inserted by r. 71 of GNR 846 of 31 October 2014 w.e.f a date to be determined by the Minister

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How will new legislation address the issue of parking license disks for the disabled?