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http://www.newsok.com/new-oklahoma-law-more-than-triples-handicap-parking-fines/article/3469730
New Oklahoma law more than triples handicap parking fines
The fine for parking illegally in a handicap zone is now $500. Oklahoma lawmakers hope the new law gives law enforcement more incentive to ticket people for parking in handicap zones.
BY JOHN ESTUS Oklahoman 32 Published: June 19, 2010
A new state law aims to get tough on those who park illegally in handicap parking spots.
Gov. Brad Henry this month signed House Bill 2567, which raises the minimum fine for parking in handicap zones from $150 to $500 and gives police more ways to enforce handicap parking laws. The law went into effect immediately.
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New Oklahoma law more than triples handicap parking fines "I think it is an outstanding piece of legislation,” said Steven Stokes, director of the state Office of Disability Concerns. "This is the only bill of its kind in the nation. In doing our research, we have found it's more comprehensive than any other state has.”
The bill was authored by Rep. Paul Wesselhoft, R-Moore, and Sen. Debbe Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City.
Wesselhoft, who runs at least one bill every year designed to help the disabled, said drivers often violate handicap parking laws because they are rarely enforced.
"It's a very low priority for police to enforce disabled parking, so by raising the fine to $500, that builds an incentive for municipalities to actually enforce the law,” Wesselhoft said.
Wesselhoft urges disabled drivers to call the police if they find a vehicle parked illegally in a handicap zone.
The $500 fine also applies to counterfeiting handicap placards or using a handicap placard when a disabled person is not in the car.
Further, officers now can ticket people parked illegally in handicap parking zones in private parking lots with public access, such as shopping centers or restaurants.
Eighty percent of fines will go to municipalities. The other 20 percent will go to the Department of Public Safety, which will use the money to create a database of registered handicap placards allowing law enforcement to better identify possible misuse of the placards, Wesselhoft said.
Stokes said convenient parking for the disabled is more important than many people realize.
"When they go to Walmart, to the medical facilities, to get a job — this is the first access issue that they are confronted with,” Stokes said. "Individuals with disabilities want enforcement.”
Oklahoma City issued 6,185 disabled parking violation tickets in 2009, records show.
Of those, about 4,000 were dismissed or reduced to a warning because the driver proved they had a handicap placard, said Stacey Davis, municipal court administrator for Oklahoma City.
Read more: http://www.newsok.com/new-oklahoma-law-more-than-triples-handicap-parking-fines/article/3469730#ixzz0rM0vNVxU
New Oklahoma law more than triples handicap parking fines
The fine for parking illegally in a handicap zone is now $500. Oklahoma lawmakers hope the new law gives law enforcement more incentive to ticket people for parking in handicap zones.
BY JOHN ESTUS Oklahoman 32 Published: June 19, 2010
A new state law aims to get tough on those who park illegally in handicap parking spots.
Gov. Brad Henry this month signed House Bill 2567, which raises the minimum fine for parking in handicap zones from $150 to $500 and gives police more ways to enforce handicap parking laws. The law went into effect immediately.
MultimediaPhoto
view all photos
New Oklahoma law more than triples handicap parking fines "I think it is an outstanding piece of legislation,” said Steven Stokes, director of the state Office of Disability Concerns. "This is the only bill of its kind in the nation. In doing our research, we have found it's more comprehensive than any other state has.”
The bill was authored by Rep. Paul Wesselhoft, R-Moore, and Sen. Debbe Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City.
Wesselhoft, who runs at least one bill every year designed to help the disabled, said drivers often violate handicap parking laws because they are rarely enforced.
"It's a very low priority for police to enforce disabled parking, so by raising the fine to $500, that builds an incentive for municipalities to actually enforce the law,” Wesselhoft said.
Wesselhoft urges disabled drivers to call the police if they find a vehicle parked illegally in a handicap zone.
The $500 fine also applies to counterfeiting handicap placards or using a handicap placard when a disabled person is not in the car.
Further, officers now can ticket people parked illegally in handicap parking zones in private parking lots with public access, such as shopping centers or restaurants.
Eighty percent of fines will go to municipalities. The other 20 percent will go to the Department of Public Safety, which will use the money to create a database of registered handicap placards allowing law enforcement to better identify possible misuse of the placards, Wesselhoft said.
Stokes said convenient parking for the disabled is more important than many people realize.
"When they go to Walmart, to the medical facilities, to get a job — this is the first access issue that they are confronted with,” Stokes said. "Individuals with disabilities want enforcement.”
Oklahoma City issued 6,185 disabled parking violation tickets in 2009, records show.
Of those, about 4,000 were dismissed or reduced to a warning because the driver proved they had a handicap placard, said Stacey Davis, municipal court administrator for Oklahoma City.
Read more: http://www.newsok.com/new-oklahoma-law-more-than-triples-handicap-parking-fines/article/3469730#ixzz0rM0vNVxU