http://www.disabledmotorists.eu/en/world_map/europe/malta.htm
Malta has adopted the European Model Parking Card. The EU parking card is a standardised European Community disabled person’s parking permit. The card provides parking entitlements to badge holders in all complying European countries – a card issued in one country is valid in another (See Reciprocity below).
Parking spaces
Parking spaces on roads and in car parks reserved for people with disabilities are marked with a wheelchair symbol. Vehicles parked in these spaces must display the Blue Badge, or ‘Blue sticker’. Do not park if the space is marked with someone’s name or a licence plate number, or if the space is outside a private house.
Parking on roads
Do not park on a road where parking is prohibited.
Do not drive or park in a pedestrian zone.
In some areas you may be allowed to park free-of-charge and without time limit on a road where payment is required but only in a space marked with the wheelchair symbol – check the parking signs or ask locally. In Valletta and in some other areas, you may park in zones / spaces reserved for residents but only for a short time – ask locally.
Parking in car parks
In some car parks, disabled persons may park without payment and / or exceed the maximum time allowed or paid-for – check the parking notices or ask an attendant.
Using your Parking Card in another country
Maltese Parking Card holder
You may use your Parking Card in most EU / EEA member states and in some other countries around the world.
Look at the entry for the country you intend visiting to see if your Parking Card can be used.
Visitor to Malta
Visitor from another EU / EEA member state – you may use your Parking Card in Malta.
Visitor from outside the EU / EEA – you should consult with the Kummissjoni Nazzjonali Persuni b’Di?abilita’ (e-mail helpdesk@knpd.org) before travelling to Malta.
Visitor to Malta from another EU/EEA member state ONLY– print and display this notice next to your Parking Card
DOWNLOAD http://www.disabledmotorists.eu/download/parking_cards/europenotice.pdf
Reciprocity
Reciprocity is the country or state being visited recognising the Parking Permit of a visitor from another country or state and granting to the visitor the same parking entitlements given to its own disabled citizens. There are two international agreements encouraging countries to recognise the Parking Permit of a visiting disabled person:
the member states of the International Transport Forum (ITF): EU and EEA, along with USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Korea, have agreed in principle to reciprocity for each other’s disabled citizens: “To provide people with reduced mobility with a document (Parking Card / Permit) and to give the same parking facilities to holders of this document coming from another member or associated member country as they do to their own nationals” (ECMT (now ITF) Resolution 97/4).
The member states of the EU and EEA are recommended to give reciprocity to disabled visitors from another EU / EEA member state who have the standardised EU model Parking Card so that: “Parking card holders may benefit from the associated parking facilities available in the Member State in which they happen to be” (EU Council Recommendations 98/376/EC and 2008/205/EC) However, both are recommendations only and not binding on the signatory countries so that while some offer reciprocity, others do not.
Article submitted by Gerry Griffiths – Information and Support Officer, Silema Group.
