Petition for fines for misuse of parent/toddler parking spaces

AN online petition has been launched to enforce fines for the misuse of parent and toddler spaces by motorists not transporting children.

Mayo mum Sophie Flynn launched the petition on the website change.org (link below) after highlighting in this newspaper the plight of parents with babies and toddlers not being able to access their cars due to parent spaces being occupied by non-parent motorists.

On one occasion, with no parent space free and another car having parked so tight to hers in the regular parking area, Sophie had to take her eight-month-old in her arms and climb through the rear passenger side of her vehicle, past her five-year-old in her seat, to secure the baby into her seat. She then had to climb through the front passenger side to get into the driver's seat as the 'inconsiderate' driver parked so close she couldn't open her door a mere foot.

There was a big response to her story on The Connaught Telegraph's social media platforms with many parents similarly struggling to get children into their vehicles, particularly those with babies, while vehicles not carrying children take up parents/toddler spaces.

Now, she has launched an online petition calling for it to be an offence, punishable by fine, to parking in a parent or toddler space if you are not carrying children.

More on the petition and to sign up here: https://bit.ly/2P1WwOs