{"id":2050,"date":"2013-10-31T10:54:14","date_gmt":"2013-10-31T14:54:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.myparkingpermit.com\/blog\/?p=2050"},"modified":"2024-06-27T09:01:31","modified_gmt":"2024-06-27T13:01:31","slug":"tampering-disabled-parking-placards-portland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myparkingpermit.com/blog\/tampering-disabled-parking-placards-portland\/","title":{"rendered":"Tampering with disabled parking placards to draw bigger fines in ME"},"content":{"rendered":"

Drivers found tampering or using expired disabled parking placards in Portland, Maine may now have to pay a heftier fine of $200. On 21 October, the City Council gave the first reading of this ordinance change in an effort to curb the rampant misuse of disabled passes.<\/p>\n

If the new rule<\/a> is implemented, frustrated parking officials can expect some relief as the fear of a heavy penalty might stop people from this unlawful practice. However, this regulation can only be enforced after a second reading of the ordinance and the City Council\u2019s approval vote.<\/p>\n

Reason behind the ordinance<\/b><\/h2>\n

Trish McAllister, the city\u2019s prosecutor, wrote a memo to the council about how misusing disabled parking placards has become a norm amongst residents –\u00a0according to her<\/a>, abuse of handicapped placards by tampering is a major problem – drivers tinker with the expiration date of the placards to prolong their validity.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey [Parking Division] even report cases where people take a dead relative\u2019s hang tag and use it for years. The fact that there is no ordinance to enforce is a source of frustration to the parking officers, who can clearly see the deception, and also the public at large, especially those who rightfully use disabled tags,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n

\"Misuse

Blatant abuse of disabled parking spaces is a growing concern for city officials all over the nation. (Image courtesy: Donald<\/a>)<\/p><\/div>\n

Parking enforcement officials can now leave tickets on offending vehicles\u2019 windshields <\/b><\/h2>\n

The Parking Division of Portland allows accessible parking only for people with appropriate plates or hangtags. As per the city law, \u201cregistrant vehicles bearing disabled plates or placards are exempt from meter fare and are entitled to park for twice the posted time limit at a meter or time zone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Currently, police officers can issue summons to a person found tampering with disabled parking placards. But they have to wait for the driver to return to the car. As parking division personnel are more likely to discover the violations; with the ordinance change, parking enforcement officials can now leave tickets on windshields of violators\u2019 cars as is the case for other parking offences.<\/p>\n

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