First Deputy Head of the Patrol Police Department Oleksiy Biloshytskyi said that the new document provides for an increase in fines up to 5100 hryvnias. Today, violators pay much less — approximately from 1020 to 1700 hryvnias, and such a penalty, according to police officers, does not work as a proper deterrent.
Law enforcement officers note that the problem of illegally occupying spaces designated for persons with disabilities is still acute in many cities of the country. Drivers often ignore road signs or make excuses that they left the car "just for a minute," thus violating the rights of people for whom accessible space is a vital necessity.
It is expected that the innovations will not only increase the amounts of fines but also allow parking inspectors and police to respond faster to such violations. In addition, in the future, the possibility of introducing video surveillance cameras that would record violations in real time is being considered.
Such changes reflect Ukraine's general direction towards strengthening social responsibility and adapting urban space for all population groups. This is another step towards European standards of urban infrastructure, where the rights of people with disabilities are not only a legal norm but also a daily habit of every driver.
It is worth noting that similar proposals have already been submitted for consideration in parliament several times, but their implementation was delayed due to technical and bureaucratic obstacles. If the current bill is adopted, the updated fines may come into force as early as autumn of this year.
