Jesse White Cracking Down On Drivers Abusing Handicapped Parking On “Black Friday”
Secretary Of State Police Will Be Out At Malls Statewide
Holiday shoppers looking to take advantage of “Black Friday” sales need to be careful parking today.
Unless you’re legally entitled to, don’t even think about pulling your car into a handicapped spot, just because the rest of the parking lot is full.
Because Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White will be watching.
White is coordinating an enforcement effort at shopping malls all over the state to focus extra scrutiny on handicapped accessible scofflaws.
“We’re here today to remind drivers that parking in a disability parking space for those who are not
disabled — is not an option,” White said at a press conference on Wednesday. “It will cost you a ticket in addition to the money you’re spending during the holiday season. In keeping with the holiday spirit, let’s be considerate while parking.”
Secretary of State Police will be out enforcing the law at Woodfield, Oak Brook, and Orland Park malls today as well as at shopping malls in Bloomington, Carbondale, Fairview Heights, Rockford, and Springfield. Other
enforcements will take place during the holiday season in cities that include Champaign, Effingham, and Peoria.
Police will be focusing special attention on handicapped placard abuse to make sure the person utilizing the placard to park is actually the actual owner of the placard hanging from the rear view mirror.
The fine for illegally using a placard or disability license plates without the authorized holder of the
placard or disability license plates present is a maximum of $500. But violators can also be slapped with a 30-day administrative driver’s license suspension from the Secretary of State for the first
offense.
If you decide you’re just too lazy to find a standard parking spot and want to park your car in a handicapped spot for the convenience of avoiding a long walk, the fine for parking in an accessible parking space without a parking placard or disability license plates can be as much $350.
People can report handicapped parking abuse by calling 217-785-0309. Make sure you make note of the placard numbers or license plate numbers and location of the vehicle. You can also fill out a compliant form at the Secretary of State website: www.cyberdriveillinois.com.
Did your ever try to read a placard serial number from outside of the car?
Geek,
Who’s plate is that?
Try stinging my street (Plymouth/Harrison) on ANY given Friday of the year . . . you’ll snag a dozens of these dirtbags in a three block radius.
The number isn’t hard to read on the placard..its big and in bold print.
It just comes down to sun glare to be honest.
And, did you know the law requires that the person with the disability for whom the plate/hangtag is issued MUST BE IN THE CAR to legally use a set aside parking space?? Of course, if that person has died, it’s a bit difficult for them to be in the car …..
I’m just sayin’ ….. GO, JESSE WHITE!!! THANK YOU for everything that you do.
Is it not illegal to drive around with this, or anything else, hanging from the rearview mirror?
Seriously, DoR needs to sweep the Plymouth/Harrison area some Friday afternoon.
Lance..
I want nothing to do with that area.
Too many damn TMA’s screwing around down there writing bullshit tickets.
Too Many Cop’s writing parking tickets when they could be going after Speeders or Red Light Violators or the illegal pan-handlers.
Keep one thing in mind :
PEA’s have no way to know who is Entitled to the Placard or if they are With the Driver of the Vehicle.
The best we can do, is pay attention to the Exp Date on the Perm and Temp HCP Placards, and Enforce the Meter Violations on the Expired Placards. I believe only Dept Revenue Supervisors have the ability to track the owners down by the Plate or Placard Number, but don’t quote me on that.
Suspect Abuse? Note the Placard/Plate Number and Make/Model of the Vehicle and Call 217-785-0309 AND 311 And the Press.
Too easy to get them for the slightest bullshit reason.
Tell me though…Should Mental Illness qualify someone for a HCP plate or Placard?
I wouldn’t want them driving in the first place in case they went off their Med’s.
[...] Friday, aka “Black Friday”, Secretary of State Jesse White kicked off an enforcement initiative for handicapped parking abuse at shopping malls around the [...]
[...] White’s office conducted a similar enforcement program last year on Black Friday, this year’s clampdown comes on the heels of a Sun-Times expose’ that showed [...]