On Thursday 11 Apr 2002 1:26 am, Salkin Kathleen wrote:
> I see your point, Marilyn,  but to tell you the truth, I'd far
> rather have a permanent plate than a hang tag.  Why?  Because the
> ones the state gives out are so cheap they fall apart in less than
> a year, and they're supposed to be good for seven years.  I wish
> they would offer permanent plates.
>
> If they were permanent plates, you'd just have to get one for each
> car.  I'd not mind doing that if I had to.
>
> Kat

Problem with perm plates is that the car may have more than 1 driver,
the concession is to a disabled person, not their car!!

The reason why they are time limited is not only to reassess the
medical condition but because the rules governing their use may
change. I have lost my parking permit this year because the
government tightened up the rules 2 years ago so when my current
permit expired I was not entitled under the new rules.

The new rules is something like "inability to walk 1/4 mile (with
adaptive device if necessary)". So if you can do 440yds, at whatever
pace/discomfort, using a walker or crutches then you are not entitled
to a permit. This change was advocated for by a number of disability
groups - which are usually dominated by vocal wheelchair users whose
main focus is of course accessability. The old rules included an
element of discretion so the assessor could take into account a lot
of other factors. For example, should a person with extreme vertigo
be given a parking permit in a town which has mainly multi-storey car
parks, I would argue yes, these disability activists would not agree.

I am a bit peeved about this because it is the only thing I have ever
claimed (and it cost the government nothing). I do not claim any of
the disability pensions that I would be entitled to because I am
lucky enough to have a job which pays enough for a comfortable
lifestyle (its the Old Socialist in me - distribution of wealth based
on need not merely entitlement).

Cheers

Deri