Parking Spaces for the Disabled Constantly Misused in Chicago

We see them in parking lots all over the city and in specially designated parking spots in residential areas--parking spaces specifically for those who are handicapped or disabled. However, some people have no compassion or respect for these parking spaces. People who have no handicap or disability often park in these spaces, leaving those who truly need to park in them without a decent parking space.

In Illinois, the state defines a disabled person as someone who "as determined by a licensed physician: (1) cannot walk without the use of, or assistance from a brace, cane, crutch, another person, prosthetic device, wheelchair, or other assistive device; (2) is restricted by lung disease to an extent specified by the state; (3) uses portable oxygen; (4) has a cardiac condition to an extent specified by the American Heart Association; or (5) is severely limited in the person's ability to walk due to an arthritic, neurological or orthopedic condition; or (6) cannot walk 200 feet without stopping to rest because of one of the above 5 conditions" (Illinois Secretary of State).

To get a residential disabled parking spot in Chicago, the secretary of state must issue the applicant a disabled license plate or placard. If the applicant is seeking a residential disabled parking spot, he or she must verify their home address to ensure that the parking area is really to be used by a person with a handicap or disability. The applicant cannot have access to off-street parking such as a garage. The initial fee for a residential disabled parking spot is $70. After that, there is a $25 annual maintenance fee which can be waived for veterans or applicants who meet the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief requirements.

Although there are requirements necessary to be met in order to get disabled parking, disabled parking scams are happening much too often. Family members and friends of the disabled individual are using the disabled parking permits and placards for their own personal use. Under previous administrations, applicants could receive numerous placards -- one for each of their children or grandchildren -- but now they are only issued one. Drivers are only allowed to use the placard is the disabled person is in the car at the time the car is being parked in a disabed spot.

Drivers misusing disabled parking spaces and placards are facing harsher penalties. They can be fined up to $500 and have their license suspended for 30 days for illegally using a disabled plate or placard to park in a disabled spot. A second violation brings a six month license suspension, and a third violation can have their license revoked. People caught parking a car in a disabled spot without a disabled plate or placard can be fined $250 to $350. Hundred of cheaters have been caught in recent years misusing disabled plates and placards, especially around the holidays and at local sporting venues. In the past couple of months, the city issued 61 citations for fraudulent use of disabled placards and parking spaces. In December, a judge imposed the largest fine to date--$1000 for a woman caught using an illegally manufactured placard. She also received one year probation and faces a one year suspension of her driver's license.

Able-bodied parkers try to use lots of excuses for abusing disabled parking. Upon being caught using parking permits issued to other family members, excuses range from "I have a brother who's in a wheelchair" to "I have bad knees" or "There's no parking." One man who was caught using a parking permit issued to his mother claims he drives her because she has kidney problems. His mother died five years ago. People are continuing to use their deceased relatives residential parking spaces for their own personal convenience. City law requires the permit to be in the name of the person using it.

Some people with disabled parking spots in front of their homes claim they have notified the city but the disabled parking signs have yet to be removed. The Department of Revenue says a recent computer upgrade will allow the department to remove more signs. The city hopes to catch more people misusing parking spaces in order to remove them. The Revenue Department is also hoping to help the city tighten it's application and recertification procedures to help get this problem under control. People who think a disabled parking spot is being misused are asked to call the city at (312) 744-PARK.

Sources:

Herman, Eric and Zimmerman, Stephanie. Chicago Sun-Times. January 7, 2007.

Illinois Secretary of State