Disabled woman fined for parking in disabled spot in Toulouse, France

A disabled woman in Toulouse, France, found herself in a Kafkaesque administrative nightmare after being fined for parking in a disabled spot, despite possessing a valid mobility inclusion card. Warda Carles, 45, who is amputated in all four limbs, parked in a designated disabled spot after an appointment. However, an automated parking control system issued her a fine for "highly obstructive parking in a space reserved for vehicles with a disabled parking card." The fine, initially 375 euros, was later increased due to late payment. Carles, who was traveling for several months, missed the initial notices. Upon her return, she attempted to contest the fine, but Toulouse City Hall informed her that she should have registered her parking card beforehand. This contradicts information on the Toulouse Métropole website, which states such registration is not mandatory for parking in disabled spots. "They drove me crazy," Carles told La Dépêche du Midi, detailing her struggle to navigate different departments without resolution. Ultimately, her current account and savings account were seized to cover the debt. This case is not isolated; many disabled individuals have reported receiving unjustified fines since the implementation of automated parking controls in 2018, as the systems cannot detect physical permits displayed on dashboards.

“

They drove me crazy