A RCMP cruiser was parked in a disabled parking spot in Barnesville, N.B. on June 20, 2009. (Photo submitted)New Brunswick RCMP officers are being reminded to follow parking regulations after two photos surfaced of RCMP cruisers parked in spots reserved for the disabled.

Ashley MacNeil said she took a photograph of an RCMP cruiser parked in a handicap parking spot at a gas bar and agency liquor store in Barnesville, N.B., in June 2009.

"Just as we were pulling away from the pumps, I said, 'you know what, I'm just going to take a picture of this.'"

MacNeil said she had forgotten about the photo until today, when she saw a similar one on CBC.ca.

That photo showed an Oromocto RCMP squad car in a handicap parking spot in Fredericton Junction last weekend.

Behind the car is a small sign with the blue and white handicap parking logo.

The resident who took the photo told CBC News that the officer backed into the spot, in no apparent rush.

Christyne Allain, the executive director of the Premier's Council for the Status of Persons with Disabilities, said the police should be setting a better example for the public.

"Law officers should be the ones showing a good example to other citizens of New Brunswick, so I was really shocked to see that there was an RCMP [car] parked in that disabled spot," Allain said.

An Oromocto RCMP cruiser is parked in a handicap spot reserved for people with disabilities in Fredericton Junction. The sign is smaller than the recommended Canadian standard. (Photo submitted)RCMP District Cmdr. Mike O'Malley said it was not a proud day for the officer or his police force.

"The member was very embarrassed," O'Malley said.

"It was not done out of lack of respect or lack of courtesy, it's just [that] the member did not see the sign."

Undersized sign

The sign marking the parking spot for disabled persons in Fredericton Junction is no bigger than 10 centimetres square, which is smaller than a CD case.

The sign is much smaller than the recommended Canadian standard for marking parking spots.

The recommended standard also includes a one-metre logo on the ground, which is missing from the parking spot in Fredericton Junction.

Ashley MacNeil says that's not the case in Barnesville.

"Well this one, he would have had to have literally get out of his car and put his foot down on the bright blue paint. I mean you couldn't miss it," she said.

MacNeil said the officer did not appear to be responding to an emergency.

"The officer backed in. He got out of his car. He had some paperwork in his hands. There was no rush or anything, so I don't believe there was any emergency."

Unacceptable behaviour

An RCMP spokesperson said this behaviour is not to be tolerated.

"The officer should not have been parked in that space. It's not acceptable for a person from the public to do so, and it certainly isn't acceptable for a police officer to do so," said Const. Chantal Farrah.

She said RCMP officers across the province will now be reminded to pay closer attention to parking signs.