Washington state cracking down on handicapped parking permit abuse

There are few things more frustrating than seeing someone take a parking space with a handicapped permit, only to walk or run just fine to wherever they are going. But disabled advocates are hoping a new measure passed in the recently concluded legislative session will go a long way in curbing the rampant abuse of the system.

“Seattle police have told me over half of disabled placards are being used fraudulently, so people without disabilities can get free street parking,” says Seattle City Councilman Tom Rasmussen. “Our hands have been tied, but following a multi-year reform effort, HB 2463 has the muscle that will allow us to help curb that misuse.”

The measure gives local law enforcement more power to detect and crack down on abusers. It strengthens and clarifies penalties for misusing a placard, and makes it a misdemeanor to sell a placard or to obtain one wrongfully. It also requires health care practitioners to authorize and renew special parking privileges, and makes it a misdemeanor for improperly displaying a placard.

Toby Olson, Executive Secretary of the Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues and Employment, says a lot of people try to pull a fast one on police.

“It might be a situation where you were using your grandma’s placard or something like that and it had expired and you put it on your dashboard with conveniently placed pieces of paper covering the expiration date,” Olson says.

Olson says the new measure is more than just a matter of fairness. Those taking advantage of the system take up spaces for disabled people who actually need them, both on the street and in parking lots.

“I thought it was an exaggeration, but I was amazed to see how many cars have placards, especially in Seattle. Folks with disabilities who use disability parking are concerned with how often all the disability parking spaces in parking lots are full as well.”

Olson says it’s understandable so many try and game the system, especially in Seattle where downtown parking can run hundreds of dollars each month.

“If you can get it for free, and if you think the risk of getting caught is pretty slim, that’s pretty good incentive.”

The new law takes effect July 1. Anyone caught improperly using a placard will face a $450 fine. But it’ll ultimately be up to law enforcement to keep a closer eye out for scofflaws. Disabled advocates like Olson are hopeful the state will undertake a public awareness campaign similar to “Click it or Ticket” to let people know they’re being watched.

“More work remains to be done, but this legislation is an encouraging move in the right direction,” Olson says.