Officials with the Philadelphia Parking Authority began a new effort Monday that is intended to focus on punishing those who park illegally in ways that impede the mobility of people with disabilities.
Two weeks ago, officials with the PPA detailed a new ADA Mobility Access Initiative that introduces new public education efforts and enhanced enforcement on illegal parking that impedes mobility of people with disabilities -- including prohibited parking on sidewalks and blocking curb cuts and crosswalks.
PPA Executive Director Rich Lazer admitted that for a long time drivers were able to get away with parking illegally.
Drivers who continue to park illegally will be fined. The fines will range from $50 to $76 depending on where the person is parked and the violated, according to the PPA.
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What happens if people choose not to pay the fines? They'll face getting a boot put on their car instead.
In order to present this initiative, the PPA has partnered with Variety, a nonprofit in the Delaware Valley that supports children with disabilities.
"The PPA is honored to partner with Variety - the children's charity of the Delaware Valley - on this very important and worthwhile initiative. They are a tremendous charity with a long history of serving young people with disabilities. They were instrumental in helping us with the messaging and production of the PSAs," said PPA Executive Director Rich Lazer in a statement.
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Along with a ticketing crackdown, the PPA and Variety have produced a number of new informational videos that can be viewed online.
In a statement, the organizations said that the goal of this new effort "is to change behavior and raise public awareness to the adverse impact on people with disabilities when motorists park illegally on sidewalks or block curb cuts and crosswalks."
In order to give residents ample notice of the pending enhanced enforcement, the PPA distributed warning notices in the lead up the start of the new initiative.
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