Crack Down on Illegal Taxi and Disabled Driver Parking Space Use Media Release - 4 June 2008 Drivers who think they might be able to safely park on a taxi stand or on a disabled drivers parking space after hours may be in for a fine. Whangarei District Council parking staff will be cracking down on unauthorised parking on these spaces after hours, issuing $40 fines throughout June and resorting to clamping from July onwards. "The decision comes as a direct result of complaints from taxi drivers and disabled drivers who cannot use spaces to which they are entitled because others are flouting the rules," said Environmental Northland Manager Keith Thompson. "The disabled community have noticed a major improvement in the availability of their parking spaces during the day since we introduced clamping, but night-time is still a problem and the taxi drivers are reporting problems as well. "Spaces for taxis or for the disabled are reserved 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but sometimes other drivers forget that and park there after hours. "We will be issuing the tickets for the first month to let those in the habit know it is illegal, and letting licensees know so they can inform their patrons, and after that we will start towing the vehicles. That is a very inconvenient thing for drivers and can be quite expensive, costing them up to $400. "We already have staff working nights so we can take care of this problem without incurring any extra cost to the ratepayer. "Its a shame we have to get tough sometimes, but it is really just to prevent people from being tough on taxi drivers and disabled drivers who have a perfect right to use their designated spaces."