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Senator Proposes $1,000 Fine For Parking In Handicapped Space

First, I thought it was politically incorrect to even use the word "handicapped"?

Second, I think the abuse runs more to doctors approving handicapped placards than to people without the placards illegally using the spaces, maybe start fining doctors $1,000 for each abuse? San Francisco did a study some time ago finding that more people downtown had handicapped placards not paying at meters than people actually feeding the meters.

San Francisco Chronicle said:
Abuse of disabled parking permits in San Francisco is a serious problem that steals money from the agency's already lean budget and makes it difficult for those needing disabled parking to find available spaces. The state Department of Motor Vehicles has issued 52,600 disabled plates and placards in San Francisco - 1 for about every 15 residents."Disabled placard abuse is one of the most significant challenges to parking management in San Francisco," said Judson True, agency spokesman. "It's a fraudulent way of people being able to park free for an unlimited time. It hurts all motorists, disabled or not."¹
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Are one out of fifteen people really disabled?

¹ http://articles.sfgate.com/2010-01-04/bay-area/17466704_1_disabled-parking-disabled-placard-disabled-space
 
We have two handicapped spaces at City Hall. One of our employees, a heavy guy, diligently uses one of them on cold or rainy days. On the balance of days, he rides his motorcycle to work, and parks it in a regular parking spot. I've often thought to ask him why he doesn't park the bike in the handicapped space.
 
Why is it that persons with daisabilities don't have to pay at parking meters? Doesn't the concept of eqivalent facilitiation mean that EVERYBODY should pay?
 
I think CA is on the right track, my office is across the street from the Post Office. I see healthy looking, able bodied folks with placards parking there all the time.
 
Can I stop or stand in the spot? I mean, as long as I'm not parked.

This is what you get when well-meaning legislators have no idea what they're talking about. Wait.. I just described Congress.
 
steveray said:
DOES THE MONEY GO TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY??? Or just a revenue generator... Sorry bout the caps...not yelling... Just askin...
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I know of no instance where traffic fines are directed to accessibility.
 
NY has a mandatory surcharge on all handicapped parking violations. The surcharge is deposited in the "Handicapped Parking Education Program".

I don't think I've ever seen anything come from the "program", but our dollars are going somewhere.. see section 1203 of the NYS VTL.

I guess the monies are not supposed to increase accessibility, but rather awareness. I think they would be better spent as grant to municipalities to put in curb cuts etc.
 
When the state raised the fine to $250, our municipality (home rule) adopted an ordinance raising the fine to $500. It was one of the trustees idea.
 
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