SACRAMENTO– In January 2019, investigators with the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) conducted 19 enforcement operations targeting the fraudulent use of disabled parking placards.  During the enforcement operations, which were conducted throughout California, investigators contacted 1,590 people to verify their disabled person parking placard.  Investigators cited 129 people who presented a placard that did not belong to them or anyone in their vehicle.

“If you’ve ever had to rely on a disabled parking placard for yourself or for someone you are travelling with, you know that finding an available designated disabled parking spot is extremely difficult,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.  “There are many people who suffer mobility issues, and some with great pain, and yet they can’t find parking spaces closest to their medical appointments, places in which they conduct business, and shopping.  Thankfully DMV investigators are weeding out the abusers on a routine basis throughout the state.”

Upon discovering someone who is fraudulently using a placard, investigators confiscate the placard and cite the individual.  Offenders face fines that range from $250 to $1,000.

Since July 1, 2018, DMV investigators have verified 11,907 disabled person parking placards and found 1,142 being misused.

The DMV holds as many as 24 enforcement operations each month throughout the state targeted at curbing disabled person parking placard abuse.

Anyone who suspects a person might be misusing a disabled person placard is urged to report it using an online complaint form or by contacting a local DMV Investigations office. Submissions are confidential.