a double penalty for people with disabilities?
From August 16, a new parking control system will be implemented in Toulouse. This is the “Lapi” device by which an automated reading of license plates will allow the verification of parking payment. A measure aimed at combating fraud and facilitating the work of the ASVP, but denounced by Odile Maurin, elected opposition member. According to her, “it’s a double penalty for people with disabilities”! Explanations.
As in Bordeaux, Lille, Paris, Marseille, Montpellier or Pau, the city of Toulouse has chosen to equip itself with a new parking control system. Vote in the municipal council on October 22, “it will make it possible to fight more effectively against fraud and ensure a turnover rate on downtown locations”, says Emilion Esnault, deputy mayor in charge of coordinating the ‘public space. For this, the municipality has equipped itself with vehicles equipped witha device for automatic reading of license plates (Lapi).
Concretely, a car, clearly identifiable, circular at low speed in the streets of Toulouse in the parking lot is paying, and this from August 16th. On board the municipal vehicle, a camera will perform an automated reading of the license plates and will compare, in real time, the numbers with the files of the parking meters, those of the resident and professional subscriptions, and the database of the town hall. In the latter will be registered in particular people with reduced mobility who benefit from a right of free parking.
The Lapi software retrieves this information to verbalize vehicles that do not show any payment or special exemption. On the other hand, if it mentions a derogation, the public road surveillance officer (ASVP) will go and check it himself. A process that should include allow “disabled people not to be criminal”since a control officer could note the presence of a Mobility Inclusion Mention Parking Card (CMIS) or a European Parking Card (CES)”, continues the deputy mayor.
Disabled people discriminated against by the new parking control in Toulouse?
Indeed, concerning the particular case of disabled people, the municipality has planned several options to preserve their free parking right. The deliberation voted during the municipal council of July 1stmentions two possibilities: The free e-ticket lasting 24 hours [disponible] at the parking meter and on a mobile application (park nowEditor’s note)” and SEO “if they wish, in the ANPR vehicle paid parking control system. This process will make it possible to identify the referenced license plate”.
But for the elected opposition member of the Alternative Municipaliste Citoyenne (AMC) group Odile Maurin, this approach is discriminatory in itself : “If I understand correctly, people with reduced mobility (PRM) who do not wish to be included in your database, who have not been able to take a ticket at the parking meter due to lack of accessibility and who do not have the Park Now application, will be fined! she summarizes.
Indeed, the ASVP only travels to the vehicle to check whether a PMR card has been affixed to the windshield if the software informs him that the latter has been reported as belonging to a disabled person. Thus, according to Odile Maurin, if none of the options offered by the Town Hall to register your car is possible, it is the very right of disabled people that is violated. “This could lead associations and individuals to take administrative justice against the City,” she believes.
A matter of goodwill…
A reasoning that makes Emilion Esnault jump. “By this mode of parking control, we try to make life easier for people with disabilities in Toulouse while waiting for a national system to be available! he explains. He thus argues the freeing up of ASVP time which could encourage more hunting for illegal parking in places reserved for PRMs, and the higher turnover rate which will allow them to find parking nearer to their destination. .
But these arguments do not convince the elected opposition member, who adds: “Only, it turns out that the Lapi, in the way you have decided to put it in place, increases the difficulties of the disabled, an already weakened population. “Self those who do not comply with the new rules in force, will have to or because of their situation, and who will be verbalized will have to enter into a dispute procedure. “So they must paying 35 euros to be able to contest and will have to wait months to be reimbursed. Not to mention the cases of non-reimbursement because the disabled person could not prove that his parking card was indeed on his windshield at the time of the verbalization…” castigates Odile Maurin.
A Lapi system whose terms are not unanimous
” Fake ! retorts Emilion Esnault. ” There is absolutely no need to settle the ticket for the dispute. Indeed, parking is no longer punishable by a fine but by a post-parking package (FPS). This can be contested by a voluntary appeal (Rapo), which will be accepted, without prior payment from a decision of the Constitutional Council of September 2020. However, the deputy mayor recognizes without saying that those who do not adhere to the system in force will indeed be fined, “the agent cannot guess that the vehicle belongs to a PMR if she has not reported it” .
Under these conditions, and sticking to his positions, Odile Maurin personally refuses to submit to this new regulation of parking control “going against the rights of disabled people”, and reserves the right to bring the Town Hall of Toulouse to justice “I may have the chance to be the first to attack you on the subject!” she uncork.