2,500 Caught Illegally Using Disabled Parking Placards In CA

CALIFORNIA -- Nearly 2,500 people in California were caught illegally using a disabled person parking placard in the last fiscal year, the Department of Motor Vehicles announced recently. Investigators with the DMV caught the offenders during 256 enforcement operations between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018.

The number of offenders is a jump from the previous fiscal year when only 1,625 citations were issued.

“We want Californians to understand that a disabled person parking placard can only be used by the person to whom it’s assigned,” DMV Director Jean Shiomoto said. “When you illegally use a placard, you disrupt the lives of those with disabilities and interfere with their mobility. I ask you to save the space.”

Offenders have their placard confiscated and receive a misdemeanor citation that carries a $250 to $1,000 fine. The violation also appears on their driver record.

Last year, the DMV increased its enforcement efforts by holding as many as 24 operations each month. It also launched an awareness campaign to educate the public about the proper use of a disabled person parking placard.

“Through education and compliance, we hope to issue fewer citations,” Acting Investigations Chief Mary Bienko said. “We will keep up our enforcement efforts until Californians stop fraudulently using disabled person parking placards.”

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