Maria Rodriguez keeps getting parking tickets outside her house (Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
A 76-year-old disabled woman, Maria Rodriquez, has expressed her fear of parking outside her own home due to the constant £70 she receives. Despite having a medical condition that forces her to park on the street outside her house, she continues to be penalised.
Maria claims she has been pleading with the council for five years to convert the double yellow lines outside her residence into a disabled bay, but to no avail. Meanwhile, the Liverpool resident’s car is increasingly being hit with yellow parking fines.
Sefton Council has justified the fines issued to Ms Rodriguez, asserting they comply with national enforcement guidelines on parking regulations. However, Maria contends that these rules are overly rigid and do not take into account her unique circumstances.
According to the the penalty charge notices given to Maria stem from incorrect display of her blue badge and time card. Maria, who speaks English as a second language, insists she was told to place the blue badge on the side.
Maria Teresa Rodriguez (Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
When questioned if there could have been a misunderstanding due to language barriers, Maria agreed but maintained that she had communicated her situation and circumstances to officials.
Maria, a disabled woman who relies on her Blue Badge for parking closer to her destinations, has voiced her frustrations over the lack of a disabled parking bay near her home. She revealed that she often has to park far from her house due to the absence of suitable parking spaces.
Expressing her exasperation, Maria said: ‘I’m just tired of all this because I keep getting £70 fines for parking outside my own house. How can this be?
“I have lived here for 23 years and I remember the day that this [parking situation] changed. A machine came to do the yellow lines just on the corner – nowhere else. I had been asking for the disabled bay for many years but they didn’t do that.”
Maria Teresa Rodriguez keeps getting told to pay the fines (Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
Maria, who is registered as disabled and has mobility issues affecting her independence and movement, relies heavily on her car and needs parking near her front door. Without resident or disabled bay parking, Maria said her life has turned into a daily struggle.
Maria added: “There are people that don’t understand that [the need for appropriate parking for drivers with disabilities]. If people had someone in their family, they would probably understand and they could make their voice heard louder than mine because I live alone and it’s difficult to get people to listen.
When asked if she feels the council has made an effort to comprehend her need for accessible parking and to clarify display guidance, Maria responded: “Well, the question is very interesting.
“I contacted the council to explain, but all they say is that this [fine] needs to be paid.
A spokesperson for Sefton Council highlighted the strict regulations surrounding Blue Badge use, saying: “There are a number of nationally set rules and responsibilities that must be adhered to when using a Blue Badge.
“One of those rules states that all Blue Badge holders must ensure their badges or time clocks are displayed correctly and made visible in the vehicle they are using, regardless of where they park.
“If this is not done so then a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) may be issued.”