Drivers who abuse disabled parking bays will be fined £30 under a law passed by MSPs today.
The rest of the UK was urged to follow Scotland`s lead after Holyrood unanimously backed a Bill aimed at ending the misuse of disabled parking spaces.
About 85% of disabled parking bays are advisory, meaning anyone can park in them without being penalised.
But the proposals in the Disabled Persons` Parking Places (Scotland) Bill, introduced by Labour MSP Jackie Baillie, will make disabled parking bays that are under local council control legally enforceable.
The new law will see drivers fined £30 for those who abuse disabled parking spaces - increasing to £60 if not paid within 14 days.
Stephen Neale, director of Scottish services at the charity Leonard Cheshire Disability, welcomed the move and said: "Scotland is taking a positive step in offering greater freedom and independence to disabled people and we would encourage the rest of the UK to follow Scotland's example.
"For too long disabled people have had to rely on the courtesy and consideration of other drivers not to take their reserved parking spaces. Sadly all too often these spaces are not respected.
"Disabled people want to be more independent, make more journeys and become more active in their community - this Bill removes a major barrier that prevents disabled people from achieving this goal.
He added: "We applaud those politicians, from all political parties, who supported the Bill through its legislative passage - in particular Jackie Baillie MSP who brought forward this vitally needed Bill."
Ms Baillie, the Labour MSP for Dumbarton, was not in Holyrood today when MSPs debated her proposals because of family reasons.
But afterwards she welcomed the passing of the Bill, stating: "The abuse of disabled parking is a quality-of-life issue and it is a profoundly upsetting problem for disabled people when they are shopping and socialising.
"I hope this legislation will act as a deterrent and make it that bit easier for disabled people to go about their day-to-day lives."
With about 15,000 disabled parking bays in Scotland, the cost of implementing the change is estimated to be between £3 million and £6 million.
The Bill ensures disabled parking bays under local authority control are legally enforceable.
Councils will be required to contact the owners and operators of private car parks, such as supermarkets and shopping centres, to come to an agreement to make disabled parking places in their car parks enforceable.
During today`s debate transport minister Stewart Stevenson said the Scottish Government took the abuse of disabled parking spaces "extremely seriously".
He told MSPs: "We share Ms Baillie`s commitment to helping disabled people throughout Scotland to have access to parking which should in turn improve the quality of their life.
"This Bill will hopefully bring to an end the abuse of disabled parking spaces and bring about a position where it will be seen by the general public as being socially unacceptable to misuse these spaces."
And although the change will come, he said, it will not happen overnight, as "there is quite a lot of work required by local authorities to implement this Bill".
However Mr Stevenson said today`s debate will "raise awareness of the abuse of disabled parking places and may help to deter some of these thoughtless drivers who exploit the current lack of enforcement".
The Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats also backed the Bill.
Tory MSP David McLetchie said: "Common courtesy and good manners should apply so that we treat people with disabilities with respect and consideration and that parking spaces designated for their exclusive use are not abused by the rest of us.
"Sadly as we have heard that is not the case and the evidence presented to Parliament does justify legislative intervention."
Meanwhile Lib Dem MSP Jim Tolson praised supermarket giant Asda for bringing in £60 fines for those who abuse disabled parking spaces
This has resulted in a 60% increase in the availability of disabled parking spaces in stores and, after covering the running costs, Asda donated £70,000 to two UK charities.
"This is an example - one which I would hope other organisations follow," Mr Tolson said.
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