CUT OFF THEIR LEGS

Chris Fusco and Art Golub at the Sun-Times wrote a wonderfully documented three- part series on people who abuse handicap parking placards.  The placards, 9” X4” cards that hang one’s rear view mirror, are like gold because they permit people to park for free anywhere in the city where rates can reach $50/day.  The placards also allow otherwise able-bodied people to park in handicap-only designated spots.

The story reported, “With the help of a retired Chicago Police Department lieutenant, the newspaper did regular spot checks in the South Loop and elsewhere in the city.

In September and October, those checks found as many as 60 cars with handicap placards or handicap license plates were parking for free each day in the area bounded by Roosevelt Road and Van Buren Street, and Desplaines Street and Canal Street.”

The newspaper documented their findings with a videographer and photographer “based on research by retired police Lt. Robert Angone, whose 19-year-old daughter lost her left leg to cancer when she was just 6 months old. In September and October, Angone observed 82 instances in which seemingly able-bodied people used handicap placards or handicap license plates to park throughout the South Loop, around the Cook County Criminal Courthouse at 26th and California and at other various spots.”

There are many people who obtain a handicap placard or plate because they drive a family member to the doctor or on errands.  The placard can only be used when the designated recipient of the placard is with the driver.  The Illinois Secretary of State web site clearly spells the rules out:

“Placards ARE NOT transferable. The authorized holder of disability

plates or a placard must be present and must enter or exit

the vehicle at the time the parking privileges are being used.

Violators face a $500 fine, driver’s license suspension and suspension/

revocation of the plates or placard. (625 ILCS 5/11-

1301.3 (a-1)).”

Handicap-parking complaints can be filed with the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office online at cyberdriveillinois.com. Click on “Parking Program for Persons with Disabilities Abuse Complaint Form.” 

The penalties for misuse of placards or plates are severe, as they should be:

PENALTIES

--People caught using handicap placards or handicap license plates without the placard- or plate-holder present face a fine of at least $500 and a 30-day driver’s license suspension. The police also can confiscate illegally used placards.

--Doctors who make false statements to help someone obtain a handicap plate or placard face fines of up to $1,000.

--People caught altering placards; manufacturing fakes; using fake, lost or stolen placards; or selling real or fake placards could be charged with a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by jail time, fines of up to $2,500 and a one-year driver’s license suspension.

I have had many medical problems and there have been times when I could barely walk one block because of the pain I experience.  People have asked me why I never gotten a handicap license or placard.  I would not get one because I don’t have a permanent disability, and most of the time I am fine.  I might medically be able to obtain a placard, but I wouldn’t do it because the handicap spaces are for people who require them all the time.

I wish we could add a penalty of cutting off the legs of anyone who illegally obtains a handicap placard or license because then they would really need it.