Disabled-placard abusers, it's your day of reckoning

[TexasTowelie]

Last edited Sat May 6, 2017, 08:43 PM - Edit history (1)

California’s DMV has a message for motorists using disabled placards to get close-in or free parking: The crackdown is here.

Inspired by a critical audit that found widespread abuse of the program – including thousands of placards in use even though their original owners likely were dead – the department is stepping up enforcement and making sure it gets the public’s attention.

Friday, the DMV announced it had cited 417 people in April for fraudulently using the placards, more than half of the citation total issued in each of the past two fiscal years. Two-thirds of the citations came over three weekends of sun-baked concerts at the Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals in Indio, where officials cited dozens of people a day as they tried to enter disabled-access parking areas and avoid the long walks and massive traffic jams of the festivals’ main public lots.

“We’re definitely ramping up to publicize it more,” DMV spokeswoman Jessica Gonzalez said. The department plans to launch a major public-relations push against abusers in September or October, she said, adding that the Coachella and Stagecoach experiences will likely prompt the department to conduct more stings at large events.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article148905604.html

[wryter2000]

1. Good for them

Mine comes automatically every two years. If I die and no one informs the DMV of my death, anyone at my address could use it.

[wasupaloopa]

2. How do they know you are abusing it?

My mother-in-law loans hers out to people like my wife. I won't ride with her
when she does that.

We went to John Muir woods near San Francisco and all you can do there is walk
among the giant redwoods.

I saw many cars park in disabled spots and the people got out and began their walk through the trees. It made no sense to me.

[tblue37]

3. Here in Kansas we get a document that identifies the person the placard is for.

Easy enough to check if you are the right person.

[PasadenaTrudy]

4. Some people

have what we call 'invisible disabilities.' Google it.

[wasupaloopa]

5. I have an invisible disability per the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Could not convince my employer of it though even though I let my hem see my medical records. I would have to take them to court and they were a county goverment with a large legal department. I could not afford to challenge them.