Illinois Lawmakers urged to toughen up on disabled parking abuse | Jan 19, 2012

By Marni Pyke | The Daily Herald

As disability liaison for the Illinois secretary of state, Bill Bogdan is well-versed in issues facing the disabled community.

But his knowledge is no help when another motorist illegally parks in a disability parking space.

“I’ve had people beat me to a spot and then run out of their vehicle,” said Bogdan, who uses a wheelchair. “Or park in the access aisle, which doesn’t allow me adequate room to get in and out.”

Bogdan and other disability experts testified Thursday at a hearing in Chicago where Secretary of State Jesse White called for toughening penalties against scofflaws.

White is seeking to make using a dead person’s disability placard or license a misdemeanor, subject to a $2,500 fine and a one-year driver’s license revocation.

Also, he wants to increase driver’s license suspensions from 30 days to six months for first-time offenders who misuse a placard or license, plus increase fines and license suspension periods for repeat offenses.

Three Illinois lawmakers at the Advisory Committee on Traffic Safety voted to support his initiative.

There are more than 577,000 disability placards and about 82,000 disability license plates in Illinois. Authorities said fraud and misuse of placards and plates is widespread — from able-bodied people borrowing them to parking in designated spots without justification.

That can make “finding a parking spot like looking for the Holy Grail,” said Chicago Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities Commissioner Karen Tamley, who uses a wheelchair.

A disability parking enforcement effort from Thanksgiving through Dec. 31 resulted in 187 citations statewide.

# http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20120119/news/701199735/