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From
KOMO-TV in Seattle:
SEATTLE -- If you're a driver who illegally uses a disabled parking placard to park for free, the city is planning to hit your wallet a lot harder than ever before.
A recent Problem Solvers investigation exposed drivers all over the city abusing disability placards. Some were caught using placards that belonged to people who died, and even police said the potential fines were only a slap on the wrist.
On Monday the city council voted unanimously to boost the fine for parking fakers, from $35 to $250.
In Seattle a disabled parking placard allows drivers to park for free in any space with no time limit. Some offenders park up to 12 hours a day in the same spot.
In June Seattle police wrote 74 citations, and half of the placards didn't belong to the driver. The Problem Solvers found half a dozen drivers using a deceased person's placard.
But finding people abusing the system wasn't as shocking as learning that many of the nabbed offenders are employed in the medical field.
Tod Steward, a valid owner of a disability parking placard, was appalled to hear about the misuse of the placards.
"Unbelievable, absolutely incredible," he said.
Steward was left practically speechless by the practice he sees as extremely crass. On the same day officers caught several offenders, Steward had to walk for blocks because he could not find a parking spot.
"It's real frustrating, because I'm physically disabled and need the permit," he said.
The higher fine means the thousands of dollars parking fakers save can be collected by the city. And for drivers like Steward, it will mean more open parking spaces.
"It will be huge. There will be a lot more that will be getting issued tickets," said Jane Hell.
The passed measure clears the way for all patrol officers - in addition to the parking enforcement task force - to write up parking tickets.
From KOMO-TV in Seattle:
