Thanksgiving Holiday Shoppers Abusing Disability Parking at Illinois Malls Statewide, Abusers Beware

Once again it's a favorite time of year for many, Thanksgiving. Time to spend time with family, and friends, volunteering is another great way to enjoy the holiday. Another tradition is shopping for the Thanksgiving week deals, and on Black Friday shopping at malls.

Black Friday, marks the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season and one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

In Illinois another tradition is one that we wish was not necessary, but as a advocate for disability issues I enjoy,

The Illinois Secretary of State Police will be for the 11th year in a row visiting shopping malls statewide. They will conduct statewide parking stings targeting individuals illegally parking in spaces reserved for persons with disabilities at shopping malls beginning Black Friday, Nov. 24, 2017.

Drivers caught misusing a placard face a six-month driver’s license suspension and a $600 fine. Repeat violators will face a one-year driver’s license suspension and a $750 fine for a second offense; for third or subsequent offenses, violators will face a $1,000 fine plus a one-year driver’s license revocation. The fine for parking in an accessible parking space without a disability placard or license plates can be up to $350 and using a deceased person’s placard or a fraudulent placard can result in a $2,500 fine and one-year revocation of a driver’s license.

The Illinois Department of Transportation and Illinois State Police are also enforcing the importance of their never-ending “Click It or Ticket” campaign aimed at getting motorists to wear seat belts.

As shared from the Illinois Secretary of State office in a press release.  Currently, 627,281 permanent disability placards and 51,416 disability license plates are registered in Illinois.

Illinois Secretary Of State Jesse White urges individuals to report abuse of parking spaces for people with disabilities by calling 217-785-0309. Callers should be prepared to report placard and license plate numbers as well the as the location of vehicles. People can also report abuse via the Secretary of State’s website at www.cyberdriveillinois.com and complete the Parking Program for Persons with Disabilities Abuse Complaint Form.

article by Jim Watkins, Ability Chicago Info |Nov. 21, 2017