For any able-bodied citizen attempting to sneak into a handicapped parking space in Red Deer County, it will soon be time to think twice.The county is finally catching up with other municipalities in the province and bringing in a bylaw that will make it illegal for any citizen to park in spots reserved for handicapped drivers.Red Deer County's new handicapped parking guidelines are part of an update of its Road Protection and Traffic Control Bylaw, along with the accompanying General Penalty Bylaw. County council adopted the current Road Protection and Traffic Control Bylaw in 1991.In a report to county council last month administration noted that ìcontrary to public belief,î violators of disabled parking stalls are not covered under provincial legislation.ìIf the municipality is going to provide assistance for disabled people to park their vehicles in close proximity to businesses, this must be included as an offence in a municipal bylaw,î stated the report.Council passed first and second readings last month. It is expected the bylaws will receive final readings by county council on Jan. 10.In updating the bylaw administration noted a growing population and increased traffic around larger hamlets and residential subdivisions showed a need for additional sections (handicapped parking) in the bylaw, along with increased fines to maintain an adequate level of deterrence to violators.ìIt was time to do it,î said Ric Henderson, assistant county manager and director of community and protective services. ìThe old bylaw was from the 1990s and it was time to update it and bring things online with the new bylaw.îOnce the bylaw is passed any parking lot in the county with up to 25 spaces for vehicles must set aside one spot for handicapped parking. From 25 to 50 parking spaces, two spots must be reserved for handicapped, and lots that have between 50 to 100 spaces must set aside three spaces for the disabled.If the proposed bylaw passes third reading, violators will face a ticket and fine of $150.Red Deer County's parking initiative for the handicapped comes more than eight years after Mountain View County implemented its policy.In 2003, Mountain View County passed its General Traffic Bylaw, which contains an entire section (15) for handicapped parking, said bylaw officer Amanda Oling.She said violators face a $50 fine for illegally using a handicapped parking spot.Both Henderson and Oling said while the initiatives in their municipalities were made to keep up with the trend across the province, there have never been any serious problems with able-bodied citizens taking advantage of handicapped drivers in parking areas.ìI haven't had any complaints,î said Oling. ìI have been here five years and there has not been a single issue. We don't have a lot of disabled parking in the county.îMeanwhile, Red Deer County's new Road Protection and Traffic Control Bylaw will also enable the municipality to designate truck routes in the future. The bylaw will also change maximum speeds along certain roads, including a decrease of 100 km/h to 80 km/h along the well-travelled curved area on Burnt Lake Trail from Twp. Rd. 383a to Rge. Rd. 283.ìThere is a lot of new development and families along there,î said Henderson. ìThere is a lot more traffic than there used to be.î
