April Crackdown on Disabled Parking Placard Abuse Results in 381 Citations

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 4, 2018

DMV investigators have issued 2,212 citations statewide in past 10 months

Sacramento – Investigators with the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) caught 381 out of 4,951 people fraudulently using disabled person parking placards during 22 enforcement operations in April. Investigators confiscated the placards and issued each offender a misdemeanor citation that carries a $250 to $1,000 fine. The violation will also appear on their driver record. 

Since July 1, 2017, DMV investigators have issued 2,212 citations during 213 crackdown efforts, which is significantly more than the 1,625 citations they handed out during the 2016/17 fiscal year.

The DMV carries out as many as 24 enforcement operations each month in an effort to reduce the impact disabled person parking placard fraud has on the mobility of those with disabilities.

Here are the results of enforcement operations during April 2018:

DateCityCitations IssuedDrivers Contacted
Date4/3CitySalinasCitations Issued6Drivers Contacted64
Date4/4CityPortervilleCitations Issued4Drivers Contacted63
Date4/5CityPittsburgCitations Issued10Drivers Contacted139
Date4/10CityOceansideCitations Issued2Drivers Contacted64
Date4/11CityMarina Del ReyCitations Issued10Drivers Contacted106
Date4/11CityOrangevaleCitations Issued6Drivers Contacted70
Date4/11CityPomonaCitations Issued10Drivers Contacted82
Date4/12CityStocktonCitations Issued4Drivers Contacted30
Date4/13-4/15CityCoachella Mustic Festival – IndioCitations Issued55Drivers Contacted1105
Date4/16CityLos AngelesCitations Issued13Drivers Contacted70
Date4/16CityMaderaCitations Issued3Drivers Contacted78
Date4/17CityChula VistaCitations Issued6Drivers Contacted79
Date4/17CitySan DiegoCitations Issued6Drivers Contacted172
Date4/17CityValenciaCitations Issued11Drivers Contacted60
Date4/17CityWillowsCitations Issued6Drivers Contacted105
Date4/19CityIrvineCitations Issued6Drivers Contacted25
Date4/19CitySanta BarbaraCitations Issued3Drivers Contacted20
Date4/20-4/22CityCoachella Music Festival – IndioCitations Issued100Drivers Contacted884
Date4/25CityAlhambraCitations Issued8Drivers Contacted78
Date4/25CitySouth GateCitations Issued5Drivers Contacted52
Date4/26CitySanta ClaraCitations Issued1Drivers Contacted64
Date4/27-4/29CityStagecoach Music Festival – IndioCitations Issued106Drivers Contacted1541
DateTotals:City22 operationsCitations Issued381Drivers Contacted4,951

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 their local DMV Investigations office. Submissions are confidential. It is important to note that some qualifying disabilities are not visually apparent and allegations of misuse might be unfounded.  

Public awareness materials that can be downloaded.

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