Illinois cracks down on abuse of accessible parking spots by nondisabled people

From The News Tribune in LaSalle, Ill.:

Have you seen anyone driving a car with handicapped plates who’s obviously not handicapped?

Call the police: Cops now have the authority to strip violators of their permits on the spot.

Gov. Pat Quinn signed Public Act 96-0072 into law July 23. Among its provisions is that police now have the authority to confiscate parking plates and decals upon witnessing a violation. The new law, introduced in February by state Sen. Michael Bond (D-Grayslake) passed both houses unanimously.

“I think it’s absolutely wonderful,” said Donna Joerger, executive director at Illinois Valley Center for Independent Living. “That’s one of the most abused laws for people with disabilities. People so frequently park in handicapped spaces or misuse placards that handicapped parking spaces become almost useless.”

Joerger noted fines hadbeen increased but without much noticeable effect. She said she welcomed any legislation to step up enforcement and deter motorists from misusing handicapped parking privileges.

Law enforcement officers also were pleased to see the confiscation rule enacted, but weren’t sure it would result in many new citations or permit seizures.

La Salle police chief Rob Uranich said he was glad the Legislature gave police direct authority to confiscate misused permits, but said he and his officers already had sufficient grounds for seizure if they witnessed an apparent violation. Uranich explained that an officer could simply have taken a tag or decal for evidence after ticketing someone for a violation.

The problem Uranich foresees is that most drivers are not attending a car that is illegally parked, making it difficult for an observer to gauge whether the motorist is misusing an otherwise legal permit.

“But if an officer does come upon a person and they find they’re unlawfully using a permit,” Uranich said, “it’s good there’s a statute addressing it.”

Laura Hall, an assistant La Salle County state’s attorney assigned to the traffic division, acknowledged that instances of someone being charged for misusing a permit “have been few and far between.”

“I would hope (the new law) would act as a deterrent: to know that if you abuse your privilege you will lose that ability to have handicapped-accessible parking.