COACHELLA VALLEY – For the second consecutive year, California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) investigators teamed with the Indio Police Department to conduct an enforcement operation aimed at reducing the number of people who fraudulently use disabled person parking placards at the Coachella Valley Music Festival.

During the 2018 event’s two-weekend run, April 13-15 and April 20-22, investigators checked 1,989 placards and issued citations to 135 concertgoers for fraudulently using disabled person parking placards.  Investigators issued an additional 18 citations to people they caught parking in a disabled spot without a placard, bringing the total to 153.

Offenders have their placard confiscated, receive a misdemeanor citation with fines that range from $250 to $1,000, and the violation appears on their driver record.

“Shame on those who are misusing these placards to access more convenient parking spaces,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.   “Thankfully DMV investigators are working throughout the state, and at large venues, to identify and cite those who abuse the use of these placards.  I know those who truly need these placards are sincerely grateful.”