ILLINOIS SECRETARY OF STATE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

  • March 8, 2001
  • CONTACT: Dave Druker
  • CONTACT: Randy Nehrt
 

White's New Plan to Reduce the Fraudulent Use of Disability Placards and Plates Approved by the House

SPRINGFIELD ––Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White's new legislative initiative to reduce the fraudulent use of disability placards and license plates was approved unanimously by the Illinois House of Representatives yesterday.

     "This legislation will help ensure that disability parking spaces are only used by the people who truly need them," White said. "I'm pleased that it received such strong support in the House of Representatives. This plan will reduce the fraudulent use of disability parking placards and disability license plates."

     The new legislative changes include:

  • Changing the current definition on the application from "Cannot walk 200 feet without stopping to rest" one of five specific medical reasons

  • Issuing only one permanent placard and/or one set of disability license plates

  • Allowing law enforcement to seize any placard if abuse occurs, then allowing the Secretary of State to revoke the placard

  • Issuing disability license plates to qualified applicants only if their name appears on the vehicle title or to a parent or legal guardian of a person with a disability

  • Making it illegal to park in the access aisle of a reserved parking space or for two vehicles to share one accessible parking space

  • Requiring a $10 replacement fee for placards that are lost or stolen, with the exception of those who meet financial eligibility criteria set forth in the Circuit Breaker program

         White has also proposed administrative changes to the program including the creation of three new disability parking placards. The new placards indicate the user's birth year and gender. Currently, there are 84,458 disability license plates, 507,851 permanent disability placards and 16,858 temporary disability placards (issued by the Secretary of State) in Illinois. There are 5,000 organizations that have been issued disability placards.

         Rep. James D. Brosnahan (D-Evergreen Park) sponsored the legislation.

         The bill now must go to the Senate for approval.