IN a major “sting’’ operation in Parramatta CBD last week, parking officers found only four drivers illegally using mobility parking scheme permits.

But Lord Mayor Paul Garrard is still convinced there is a rort with the permits as “there could not possibly be so many people with disabilities working in Parramatta’’.

He has ordered more swoops by council officers on vehicles displaying the permits parked all day in the CBD.

“I think it is too easy for people to get these permits and I have heard that doctors are being bribed to support applications,’’ Cr Garrard told the Advertiser.

Parramatta Council moved in on vehicles displaying the permits after the Advertiser exposed the large number parked all day around Parramatta.

Last Tuesday 20 officers staked out Charles and George streets and Argus and Union lanes, waiting for drivers to return to their cars. While some drivers were scared off when they saw the officers, many returned to their cars and showed their mobility permits.

All were legitimate holders of the permits but on the following afternoon, there were two people parked in Macquarie St found to have the MPS permit of another person without that person being present.

They were fined $506. Officers found one vehicle displaying an expired MPS permit and another displaying a photocopied permit.

They were fined $84 for not displaying a current parking ticket.

Cr Garrard claimed it was “too easy’’ to get permits.

But Assistant Transport Minister David Borger said the RTA monitored the MPS between July and September 2008 and found that about 95 per cent of permits sighted were valid.

Mr Borger said the NSW Government had given council rangers the power to enforce the scheme and to confiscate misused permits.

From May 2009, MPS applicants have been required to have their medical fitness to drive assessed if they hold a driver licence and the RTA has not been notified of any medical condition on their driver licence.

If people believe a mobility permit is being misused they should contact the RTA hotline on 1300 88 48 99. To qualify for a permit people must prove they can’t walk 100m without difficulty.