10% of California drivers have disabled parking placards

Source: Los Angeles Times

... Fraudulent use of disabled parking placards — those blue or red badges that allow motorists to park for free or in specially reserved spaces — has exploded in the last decade, according to state motor vehicle officials. With 1 in 10 California drivers now legally registered to carry the passes, transportation experts say abuse has become commonplace. At any given moment, on any given street, more than a third of the vehicles displaying the tags — and parking without paying — are doing so illegally, say officials with the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

Now, with the state and municipalities in financial crisis, the DMV is cracking down on placard fraud. In a series of sting operations, DMV investigators have targeted malingering motorists in such high-volume parking districts as Beverly Hills' Golden Triangle, downtown's Fashion District and Westwood. With more stings planned, they could be coming soon to a street near you.

... The reactions of drivers can be telling, investigators say. Magdalene Osherenko, a driver cited during the recent sting in Beverly Hills, became agitated and tried to grab a placard registered to her mother from the DMV investigator who had confiscated it. "I think it's not fair what you're doing," she told investigators. "You're in Beverly Hills. I'm going to take this up with the Beverly Hills Police Department."

... Abuse of disabled placards is not a new phenomenon. ... What is new, however, is the proliferation of disabled placards.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-disabled-parking-20110522,0,7204414.story

I would never dream of taking a space from a handicapped person. How low can you get?

you get to park on the streets for free. These fakers really make me pissed off.

California law allows people with handicapped placards to park in any metered street space, any public parking lot, or any public garage at no charge and for as long as they want. If you live in an urban area without a lot of free parking, this can be a huge money saver.

Isn't that a crime?

Technically, it's also a crime for any doctor to sign the DMV form validating a disability when none exists (or when a disability doesn't meet the legal criteria).

Of course, there's never been a SINGLE prosecution. Why not? Because California law merely requires that you be diagnosed with a condition that "impairs mobility or eyesight". Overweight, like 53% of Californians? You aren't as mobile as skinny people and get a placard! Have ANY diagnosed eye condition, like almost everybody on the planet? You get a placard! Play too many video games and have legs that get sore when walking across a parking lot? You get a placard!

Whatever the original intent of the legislature, the DMV and police don't get to question the validity of the diagnosis, and California law merely requires that one be made. Since everyone has SOMETHING wrong with them, it's a system that can be easily abused. The gray area here is a mile wide, and it's being exploited by anyone and everyone.

Parking closer I get, but why shouldn't they have to feed the meter?

:shrug:

Magdalene Osherenko, a driver cited during the recent sting in Beverly Hills, became agitated and tried to grab a placard registered to her mother from the DMV investigator who had confiscated it. "I think it's not fair what you're doing," she told investigators. "You're in Beverly Hills. I'm going to take this up with the Beverly Hills Police Department."

Sense of entitlement or spoiled brat?

On edit: "Only the little people pay to park, too"

Somewhere in this mix they have to look into patterns of abuse by doctors, too.

The law is written very broadly, allowing most medical professionals to authorize one. At the same time, medical privacy laws prevent the DMV from even asking about the nature of the disability. If you can get a doctor to sign the paper, the police and DMV aren't even allowed to question it. The results have been predictable. Many doctors don't even argue the point with their patients...if you ask, and you have any sort of physical problem, they'll sign off on it.

If you have an honest doc who won't do it, there are clinics on Craigslist that offer "Disability Examinations" for as little as $100, which will certify you for a placard. Kinda like those MM examinations: "Have you ever had a headache? Yes? Here's your prescription". It's very dishonest, but our laws make it very difficult for anyone to prosecute them.

And that would be un-American.

They come with the same "privileges" as regular disabled plates. I have one, but just wanted the low vehicle registration fee of $3.00. Otherwise do not use the parking spots.