POMONA – During the course of the Los Angeles County Fair, investigators with the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) conducted five enforcement operations aimed at verifying the legal and illegal use of Disabled Person Parking Placards (DPPP).  Despite the publicity following their first enforcement operation at the fair on September 10, 2017, in which investigators issued citations to 71 people who were caught fraudulently using DPPPs, hundreds of people continued to misuse the placards to obtain better parking.

“DMV investigators receive kudos from the public as they conduct these law enforcement operations,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.  “Disabled parking spaces are difficult to come by and there are individuals who truly need them.”

DMV investigators conducted their enforcement operation at the fair September 10, 14, 15, 21 and 23.   They checked 2.754 placards to ensure they were being used properly and discovered 477 people abusing them.  Investigators confiscated the misused placards and issued citations in which the person in violation must appear in court to face possible fines that range from $250 to $1,000.

Most violations involve people using disabled parking placards issued to family or friends to avoid paying parking fees or to obtain convenient and/or unrestricted parking.

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.

Anyone who suspects a person may be misusing a Disabled Person Parking Placard is urged to report it using an online complaint form or by contacting their local DMV Investigations office.

Assisting with the enforcement operation at the Los Angeles County Fair was the Pomona Police Department and Fairplex administration.