High-handed response

A mobility card and the number plate "UNARMD'' were no defence against a parking ticket for Barry De Geest.
Nor should they be, he says. "At the end of the day, they [parking officers] wouldn't know I don't have arms.''
What has really worried him is the response to his letter explaining why he did not put money in the parking meter.
Mr De Geest, who featured in a recent Encounter feature interview in The Aucklander, drives a modified van and uses a harness that turns the wheel when he leans.
Early last month, he drove to the inner city and parked in a mobility spot in the Wilson Parking car park at Princes Wharf. When he returned to his van, he found a $45 infringement notice for not displaying a ticket.
He sent a letter explaining his condition and that he was unaccompanied at the time.
Too bad. The response letter notes that the machine clearly states: "if you are unable to purchase a ticket for any reason DO NOT PARK... ''.
"I couldn't believe their attitude,'' says Mr De Geest. "I don't mind getting the ticket because how could they know? But when you explain it to them, you don't expect that reply.
"It's the worst response I've ever had. It's hard enough being disabled without dealing with that sort of treatment. I've parked all over New Zealand and never had such a problem.
"I'm a disabled person with no arms. Unaccompanied. I clearly display my mobility card.
Basically, it's like they are saying, 'Don't come into the city.'.''
Parking Enforcement Services is the division of Wilson Parking which issues the tickets and collects the money.
A manager from the division told The Aucklander he could not comment. "It's an issue between him and us. If he contacts us again we could look at it again.''
Barbell Winter, the regional manager of CCS Disability Action, says the treatment of Mr De Geest is "outrageous''. She says there are few legal options to mount a challenge.
"New Zealand doesn't have strong laws protecting people in this sort of situation. He's been set up to fail. Personally, I would look at taking it up as a discrimination case.''
That's something Barry De Geest might yet do. "I'm considering letting it go to court just so I can fight it.''