 |
City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
|
NEWS ADVISORY
|
| SUBJECT: Seattle to Put an End to Fraudulent Use of Disabled Parking Placards
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
9/21/2004 3:30:00 PM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
|
Seattle to Put an End to Fraudulent Use of
Disabled Parking Placards
Enforcement efforts will ensure more access for disabled parkers
SEATTLE --Using a disabled parking placard that isn’t yours? The ticket with your name on it could be almost $300. Seattle Police Department and the Seattle Department of Transportation are teaming up to end the abuse of disabled placards, and if they catch a driver using a parking placard that isn’t theirs, the driver gets a $294 ticket.
When people abuse disabled parking placards, they deny truly disabled individuals accessible parking for their daily work, shopping and medical appointments," Mayor Greg Nickels said. "We’re going to find those people who are using the placards illegally, and give them the full punishment of the law. As a result, there will be more parking spaces for use by legitimate users and other short-term parking customers.
"Misused disabled parking placards deny disabled individuals accessible parking for their everyday tasks that can be difficult, if not possible, if access to where they need to go isn’t there," said Ernie Butler, Advocacy Director of the Northwest Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America.
According to SDOT, about 30 percent of people parking downtown are using disabled permits to park for free. A study by SPD’s Parking Enforcement Unit showed that more than 75 percent of those placards were not properly matched to the vehicle registration. Examples of placard abuse are those expired, issued to people since deceased, or those reported lost and replaced, although still in use.
"The illegal use of disabled placards has gone on long enough, said Assistant Police Chief Harry Bailey. "Over the coming months, we’re stepping up the enforcement against the hundreds of people who use them dishonestly. Drivers without the proper documentation will get the $294 ticket."
Disabled parking privileges are issued by the Washington State Department of Licensing provided they meet criteria as certified by a physician. A disabled license plate goes with the car registered to the disabled person; the placards are portable and may be used on multiple vehicles as long as the disabled person is in the vehicle while it’s being used.
"There is a good supply of monthly commuter parking in downtown Seattle that is available at a cost," said SDOT Director Grace Crunican. "The abuse places legitimate permit holders at a real disadvantage and hurts businesses, too."
Last December and February, SDOT conducted an on-street parking survey in downtown Seattle and found that:
- Almost all the meters surveyed are full all day during typical weekdays, and about 30% of the vehicles surveyed had disabled parking permits.
- The average stay for vehicles without a disabled parking permit was about 1¾ hours; for vehicles with disabled permits, it was about 4½ to 5 hours.
- About 72% of the vehicles with disabled permits were parked more than four hours.
Currently, state-issued disabled parking permit holders (with either a license plate or disabled placard) are provided a privilege to park free of charge and for unlimited periods of time in areas that are otherwise time-restricted.
SPD and SDOT are jointly addressing misuse of disabled parking placards through enforcement and educational materials to inform users of the City's paid parking regulations, including how to park legally within the time allowed.
###
Office of the Mayor
| 
