illegal use of disabled parking permits -Orlando crackdown

[gamby]

police crack down on illegal use of disabled parking permits

Police said they want to crack down on people using handicapped parking permits to illegally park

Eyewitness News has discovered that police officers are taking extreme measures to stop the problem, including arresting people.

[skyguy79]

police crack down on illegal use of disabled parking permits

Police said they want to crack down on people using handicapped parking permits to illegally park

Eyewitness News has discovered that police officers are taking extreme measures to stop the problem, including arresting people.I would be very surprised if police arrested anyone much more than they currently would. Some legitimate handicaps are not readily obvious and if the police arrested a legitimate handicapped user, they could risk a lawsuit as well as bad press for a false arrest of a handicapped individual! So I guess the question that Eyewitness News didn't state is how police are going to take extreme measures. Whatever it is I can't really see it going much beyond the issuance of a greater number of appearance tickets through greater surveillance.

[Quixote]

police crack down on illegal use of disabled parking permits

Police said they want to crack down on people using handicapped parking permits to illegally park

Eyewitness News has discovered that police officers are taking extreme measures to stop the problem, including arresting people.

Sorry, I'm not clear what you're getting at. What point are you making? Or are you just letting others know that the police are cracking down on people using these permits illegally? Thank you.

[Topspinmo]

Probably family members using the vehicles not being the handicapped one and parking in the spots. IMO the handicapped permit gotten out of hand anyway should be for wheel chair access only IMO.

[billethkid]

The handicapped permit is out of control, has gone far beyond the "handicapness" of intent to the point of abuse.......by far too many.

btk

[rubicon]

The handicap sticker abuse also appears to apply to golf carts. This is an observation not a judgment

[Parker]

Agreed that this is an abused privilege. Not only do some family members use the permits (saw a teenager whip into a handicapped space yesterday and literally bound into the store), but it seems that many of these permits have been handed out too liberally in the first place.

But we must be careful not to judge prematurely, as a handicap is not always readily apparent!

[Golfingnut]

I agree, it is strange when I see someone pull into a HC spot, hurry into a bar and sit there smoking and drinking longer than Me. Golfers that have no problem getting in and out of a sand trap yet have to park 10 feet from the green. Two wheel Motorcycle riders with a sticker. I am always suspect of the sticker that comes out of the dash compartment and onto to mirror when parking is limited. I do support the system and have sympathy for those with the true need. However, if you don't need a HC sticker and yet have and use one, you are as low a form of a demented personality as one can become.

[Parker]

If demented personality was the real reason, I could forgive that. Rather, it is a selfish mindset that causes one to abuse the permit. Me, me, me first!

[Topspinmo]

IMO the biggest abuse is the one's that eat themselves into oblivion :icon_hungry: due to lack of exercise and control. Then they get rewarded by parking up front when they should have to park in the back for the chance of some improvement:pepper2:... Some are beyond the point of no return. Others have heart or lung disease and can't walk very far which one day most of us will be in that category . I got bad foot, but can still play tennis and pickleball for two hours. Guess I'll have to complain to the Doctor. Are there handicap parking up front at the tennis and pickleball courts!!:evil6::evil6:

[Quixote]

If demented personality was the real reason, I could forgive that. Rather, it is a selfish mindset that causes one to abuse the permit. Me, me, me first!

.... But we must be careful not to judge prematurely, as a handicap is not always readily apparent!

I agree with both points. I have a handicapped tag for an intermittent and not very visible issue, so I use it only intermittently. But at those times when I have to use it, occasionally I have the self-appointed "mayor of the parking lot" give me lip about it....

[gomoho]

The woman they busted that was on the news was using a deceased relatives handicap sticker. Apparently this is quite common. Somehow the police have the ability to run the number on the sticker and it gives them information.

I'm wondering who would even think to do something like that??? Oh yeah, the entitled ones.

[tommy steam]

This is a bit off but a month ago I saw a guy driving a big Harley with a handicap sticker on his motorcycle , just thought it was weird but he must have had something wrong with him to have it.

[asianthree]

blue signs are for those who have visable handicaps...red are for those who do not have visable signs, such as not able to walk a great distance. my husband has a red one and yes there are many who have a comment about not looking like a handicap person..but i agree in the winter when he need to be close its hard to find a handicap spot open, so he is forced to wait until one becomes open..his doctor wanted him to have a permenent one and he told him no...he thinks he will one day not have to use one

[skyguy79]

blue signs are for those who have visable handicaps...red are for those who do not have visable signs, such as not able to walk a great distance. my husband has a red one and yes there are many who have a comment about not looking like a handicap person..but i agree in the winter when he need to be close its hard to find a handicap spot open, so he is forced to wait until one becomes open..his doctor wanted him to have a permenent one and he told him no...he thinks he will one day not have to use oneI'm sorry but what you've stated about the colors of the handicapped placards is incorrect. The color has nothing to do with the viability of the handicapped or lack of it. The blue placard is for permanent handicaps and is good for 4 years. As of Oct. 1, 2012 a new application must be completed and signed by a certifying authority in order to renew for another 4 years. There is no charge for the blue placard. The red placard is for temporary needs, is good for 6 months and has a cost of $15. This is used for non permanent needs. i.e. someone who has an operation and the permit is needed during recuperation.

[rubicon]

The blue placard is for....and the red placard is for... and the yellow placard was the one the guy gerry-rigged in his garage:pepper2:

[KathieI]

I'm sorry but what you've stated about the colors of the handicapped placards is incorrect. The color has nothing to do with the viability of the handicapped or lack of it. The blue placard is for permanent handicaps and is good for 4 years. As of Oct. 1, 2012 a new application must be completed and signed by a certifying authority in order to renew for another 4 years. There is no charge for the blue placard. The red placard is for temporary needs, is good for 6 months and has a cost of $15. This is used for non permanent needs. i.e. someone who has an operation and the permit is needed during recuperation.

I believe you are correct, Sky... I had a blue card for my 94 yo daddy because of his very limited sight and also he could not walk far because of a faulty heart valve.

Back to using the card illegally, when daddy passed away, I couldn't, in my heart of hearts, even think of using the card because it would bring me to tears because I missed him so much. So I just cut it up and threw it away although we had a lot more time on it.

[NotGolfer]

Some folks don't "look" handicapped but have disability issues one can't see. For instance rheumatoid arthritis, MS (in earlier stages), and some other diseases that inhibit being on one's feet or walking easily a distance. Yes, there are abuses with this as there are in many other areas of society as well. To make a blanket statement or observational judgment could be incorrect.

[Parker]

Question: If a person is caught using a handicapped card illegally, is there any kind of penalty?

[skyguy79]

I believe you are correct, Sky... I had a blue card for my 94 yo daddy because of his very limited sight and also he could not walk far because of a faulty heart valve.

Back to using the card illegally, when daddy passed away, I couldn't, in my heart of hearts, even think of using the card because it would bring me to tears because I missed him so much. So I just cut it up and threw it away although we had a lot more time on it.Thanks Kathie. Sorry for having your emotions affected by this discussion.

From my past professional experience I knew this to be correct. Matter of fact I was even able to make visual decisions for handicapped plates without a doctors approval. However, my experience was with New York State and not Florida, so I did again research for Florida and verified what I've stated from off of a governmental website.

In checking it out, I even learned something new that I didn't know previously. I learned about the change in the regulations requiring a new application form (HSMV 83039) be filled out and properly authorized before you go to do the renewal. IIRC, prior to the change you only needed to turn in the expiring permit while having a new one issued. Even learned that later last year the requirements for replacing a lost placard were also changed; new application and a replacement fee are now required!

[skyguy79]

Question: If a person is caught using a handicapped card illegally, is there any kind of penalty?Yes! The person could be charged with a misdemeanor of the second degree and if found guilty could face a fine of $500.

Ref: s. 553.5041, s. 775.083

[Parker]

Yes! The person could be charged with a misdemeanor of the second degree and if found guilty could face a fine of $500.

Ref: s. 553.5041, s. 775.083




Thanks Skyguy. And might you know if people ever really end up paying it? Their names ought to be published in the paper too, just to add a little bite to the price.

[skyguy79]

Thanks Skyguy. And might you know if people ever really end up paying it? Their names ought to be published in the paper too, just to add a little bite to the price.Sorry, don't have a clue!

[zcaveman]

You get the ticket you pay the ticket unless you can show that your driver's license and the registration match the handicap placard.

Z

[asianthree]

I'm sorry but what you've stated about the colors of the handicapped placards is incorrect. The color has nothing to do with the viability of the handicapped or lack of it. The blue placard is for permanent handicaps and is good for 4 years. As of Oct. 1, 2012 a new application must be completed and signed by a certifying authority in order to renew for another 4 years. There is no charge for the blue placard. The red placard is for temporary needs, is good for 6 months and has a cost of $15. This is used for non permanent needs. i.e. someone who has an operation and the permit is needed during recuperation.

no cost for the red one...in the paperwork from the state this was the explaination for the two colors, maybe the state misprinted why one is red and one is blue... ours is a 5 year renewal still a red one...my dads 5 year renewal same state is blue and has a wheelchair..just saying

[DougB]

no cost for the red one...in the paperwork from the state this was the explaination for the two colors, maybe the state misprinted why one is red and one is blue... ours is a 5 year renewal still a red one...my dads 5 year renewal same state is blue and has a wheelchair..just saying

I would imagine different states have different laws. No?

[skyguy79]

no cost for the red one...in the paperwork from the state this was the explaination for the two colors, maybe the state misprinted why one is red and one is blue... ours is a 5 year renewal still a red one...my dads 5 year renewal same state is blue and has a wheelchair..just sayingWhat state are you talking about? We were discussing handicapped parking in Florida!