State of Illinois crackdown on disability fraud - New law would impose tougher penalties | March 28, 2012

By Travis Morse | The Journal-Standard

Freeport, Ill. — Supporters hope a new law that creates harsher penalties for disability fraud will help ensure that disabled residents in Illinois have more places to park, said Dave Druker, a spokesman for Secretary of State Jesse White.

“The whole concept is to create more disability parking for people who need it,” Druker said. “Hopefully, people will get the message this way.”

If signed into law, the legislation, House Bill 5056, would toughen penalties for those who abuse parking privileges designed to assist the disabled, states a news release from White’s office. The bill was approved last week by the Illinois House of Representatives, and is now being considered by the Senate.

According to Druker, the law targets a particularly offensive type of disability fraud. This crime involves a non-disabled person who uses a placard and/or disability license plates that once belonged to a disabled person who is now deceased.

“It’s something the Secretary is especially offended by,” Druker said, adding that people who commit this crime make it more difficult for the genuinely disabled to find parking spots. “The Secretary has formed a task force to study this issue to see if other aspects should be looked at.”

Currently, this kind of fraud falls under the category of general misuse of a placard or plate, which is a minor offense. The legislation would create a new offense for this action, making it a Class A Misdemeanor, which is punishable by a minimum one-year driver’s license revocation and a $2,500 fine.

Also, the legislation would increase the license suspension periods for violators of the general misuse of a placard or plate law, the release states.

Druker said he is optimistic about the new law’s chances for success.

“We expect it should do well in the Legislature,” Druker said.

In the mean time, White has formed a subcommittee to find ways to eliminate disability fraud and abuse. This is part of an overall effort to perform a “top-to-bottom review” of the state’s Parking Program for Persons with Disabilities, the release states.

“The goal of the subcommittee is to eliminate fraud and misuse, and to ensure that disability parking spots are available for those truly in need,” White said in the release.

A time frame was not available for when the Senate will vote on House Bill 5056.

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