SACRAMENTO -  California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) investigators conducted 22 enforcement operations targeting the fraudulent use of disabled person parking placards during the month of January 2018.

During the operations, investigators contacted 1,822 drivers throughout the state, to verify they were using their own DMV issued placards to park in disabled parking places.   Of the 1,822 drivers contacted, investigators caught 185 people parking in spaces designated for the disabled and using placards that were not issued to them.

“Despite widespread publicity about these enforcement operations conducted by DMV investigators, people continue to use someone else’s placard to benefit from convenient and or free parking,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.  “DMV investigators are committed to serving the public and those who, due to medical or mobility problems, need the assistance of parking closer to businesses, doctors’ offices and markets.  This is just one of the many public safety and consumer protection jobs that DMV investigators carry out as peace officers.”

From Juley 1, 2017 to January 31, 2018, DMV investigators issued 1,511 citations to people fraudulently using disabled person placards.  Offenders must appear in court to face possible fines ranging from $250 to $1,000.