Contact: Office of Public Affairs
2415 First Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95818
(916) 657–6437 | dmvpublicaffairs@dmv.ca.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 7, 2018
DMV Investigators catch 132 people misusing disabled person parking placards in November
Sacramento – As holiday shoppers crowd store and mall parking lots, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) reminds Californians to “Save the Space” designated for disabled individuals who legally display disabled person parking placards.
“With parking at a premium during the holiday season, it is important to remember that misusing a disabled person parking placard is not only against the law, but it negatively impacts the mobility of those with disabilities,” DMV Director Jean Shiomoto said. “The DMV is committed to curbing fraud and will give offenders the gift of a citation. So, I ask you to save the space.”
In November 2018, DMV investigators caught 132 people fraudulently using disabled person parking placards during 21 enforcement operations throughout the state. Offenders had their placard confiscated and were issued a misdemeanor citation that carries a fine that ranges from $250 to $1,000.
Since July 1, 2018, DMV investigators have verified 8,596 disabled person parking placards and found 881 being misused.
The DMV holds as many as 24 enforcement operations each month throughout the state targeted at curbing disabled person parking placard abuse. The following results are from enforcement operations held in November 2018:
| Date | City | Citations Issued | Drivers Contacted* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11/5 | Los Angeles | 9 | 45 |
| 11/6 | Chula Vista | 6 | 98 |
| Santa Rosa | 1 | 33 | |
| Yuba City | 2 | 60 | |
| 11/7 | Santa Clara | 4 | 84 |
| 11/15 | Buena Park | 3 | 51 |
| El Centro | 10 | 130 | |
| Fresno | 6 | 51 | |
| 11/18 | Carson | 9 | 91 |
| 11/19 | Bakersfield | 5 | 46 |
| 11/20 | Los Angeles | 6 | 26 |
| Ontario/Upland | 4 | 183 | |
| 11/21 | Porter Ranch | 12 | 80 |
| 11/25 | Carson | 10 | 123 |
| 11/27 | Covina | 6 | 77 |
| Oakland | 7 | 94 | |
| San Marcos | 4 | 123 | |
| South Gate | 10 | 90 | |
| Stockton | 5 | 30 | |
| 11/28 | Oxnard | 12 | 59 |
| 11/30 | El Dorado Hills | 1 | 65 |
| Totals: | 21 operations | 132 | 1,639 |
*Drivers Contacted is the number of people DMV investigators contacted in order to verify their disabled person parking placard.
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. It is important to note that some qualifying disabilities are not visually apparent and allegations of misuse might be unfounded.
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