Are Chicago Alderman willing to "tighten the noose against Disabled Parking Fraud" : article Oct 25, 2011

Bogus disabled parking placard? You could get towed

Chicago is preparing to tighten the noose against disabled parking fraud—by snatching the vehicles of those who abuse the privilege.

Karen Tamley, commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, said Tuesday she wants the City Council to add disabled parking scams to the array of offenses punished by vehicle impoundment.

The penalty would apply to motorists without disabilities who fraudulently obtain placards that allow them to park for free at metered spaces on Chicago streets, at designated close-in spaces in commercial lots and in marked spaces in front of their own homes, in exchange for a $70 fee.

Fines, towing and storage fees could top $1,000.

Testifying at City Council budget hearings, Tamley also disclosed that she’s working to tighten requirements to qualify for designated spaces on residential streets.

Reforms may include a requirement that motorists who park in the allotted space live at the address on the street sign. On streets where the number of disabled spaces exceed 20 percent, spaces could be shared.

The crackdown can’t come soon enough for Chicago aldermen, who have been harping about disabled parking fraud for years.

“Some people think it’s an entitlement,” said Ald. Nick Sposato (36th), who never realized the level of abuse until 13 years ago, when he broke his leg and got a temporary placard.

Ald. Richard Mell (33rd) said he’s knows someone who had a hip replacement four years ago and “still keeps” the disabled parking placard.

“Let’s make these spaces available for people who really need ‘em. ...I’ve seen individuals get ‘em for their parents, then they use ‘em for themselves,” Mell said.

Downtown Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) said he’s worked with Secretary of State Jesse White on a number of enforcement actions, with limited success.

“In order to get these folks, they need to be present at the vehicle with their license. Making that happen given our kind of limited resources with police and others is very difficult,” Reilly said.

Tamley argued that the problem starts with the doctors who authorize White to issue the placards.

“To get a placard is based on functional need. It’s not just because you have a disability. It’s because you cannot walk a certain distance. So, honing in on that is very, very important in making sure that those who have the placards are actually those who deserve the placards,” she said.

For $70 and proof of disability, the city will mark off a parking space just steps outside a motorist’s front door.

In 2007, a Chicago Sun-Times investigation found that nearly 10 percent — 1,097 — of the disabled spots on city rolls were at addresses where no nearby resident holds a state-issued disabled license plate or parking credential, as required by law.

A review of city permits also turned up 260 spaces set aside for dead people. Some of them had been deceased for five years or more.

In spite of those abuses, a City Council committee voted a few months later to let motorists with disabilities park at the designated spaces in front of their homes without displaying a windshield placard to give a break to forgetful seniors getting hammered with parking tickets.

# Source: Chicago Sun Times By Fran Spielman Oct 25 2011
http://www.suntimes.com/8409646-418/bogus-disabled-parking-placard-you-could-get-towed.html