SAN DIEGO  – In an effort to educate the public and enforce the law, California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) investigators are conducting  enforcement operations to put a stop to Disabled Person Parking Placard (DPPP) abuse.

On April 18, 2017, DMV investigators fanned out at six different locations in San Diego to identify and cite those using DPPPs that were not issued to them.  Of the 369 people investigators found displaying a DPPP, 16 of them were doing so fraudulently.

“You can’t take Uncle Jim’s Disabled Person Parking Placard, without Uncle Jim, and use it to get more convenient, and/or free parking,” said Kenny Ehrman, president of the Association of Motor Vehicle Investigators of California (AMVIC).  “As a DMV investigator conducting these enforcement operations, I see first-hand the struggle that disabled persons have in finding a parking space set aside for those experiencing a disability. Let’s be genuine and see that those who need parking spaces very close to business entrances, get them.”

DMV investigators checked out disabled parking spaces at two Costco and four Walmart stores and wrote citations that carry possible fines of up to $1,000.  These are misdemeanor offenses that will appear on the offender’s driver record, however no points are assessed because it is not a moving violation.

California Vehicle Code Section 4461(b) (c) prohibits anyone from lending their placard, knowingly permitting the use of their placard or allowing anyone else to use it while they are not present.  In addition, a person shall not display a disabled person placard that was not issued to him or her or that has been canceled or revoked.

“It is important to point out that some qualifying disabilities are not visually apparent and allegations of misuse may be unfounded,” explained DMV Investigations Chief Frank Alvarez.  “The majority of Californians who apply for a DPPP have legitimate reasons for doing so.”

Anyone who thinks someone has been issued a Disabled Person Parking Placard in error or suspects placard misuse is urged to contact their local DMV Investigations office and submit a written complaint by filling out a Record of Complaint Form 172A.  The complaint can be anonymous.

Approximately 2.4 million people in California are currently issued permanent Disabled Person Parking Placards.