Interministerial Report Urges Re-Examining All 446,000 Disabled Parking Permits

An interministerial team on disabled parking permits recommends that the Licensing Authority rely on medical determinations approved by the National Insurance Institute, replacing the document checks now run by Ministry of Transport doctors, in conclusions due Tuesday. Eligibility would narrow to the blind, mobility and special services allowance recipients with a mobility limitation of at least 60 percent, and long term care recipients at level 4 or above. The team also decided existing permits be re-examined against the new tests, estimating many badges expiring within two years may not be renewed. Israel ended last year with 446,000 permit holders and 655,000 associated vehicles, a 322 percent rise in a decade.