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August 27, 2007

Elizabeth Kaufman
Dave Druker

Jesse White's Legislation To Increase Fines For Repeat
Disability Parking Abuse Approved by Governor

Legislation initiated by Secretary of State Jesse White that increases fines up to $1,000 for people who continually abuse disability parking placards and license plates was approved by Governor Rod Blagojevich. The new law takes effect June 1, 2008.

Under the new law (PA 95-0430), those caught parking with a fraudulent disability placard or license plate in spaces reserved for people with disabilities will face fines of $750 for their second offenses and $1,000 for their third or subsequent offenses.

The violator may also have his or her driving privileges, as well as the disability license plates or placard, suspended or revoked.

"It is unbelievable that able-bodied people would time and time again abuse this important program and take parking spaces reserved for persons with disabilities," White said. "The increased fines and suspensions will send a message that if you continue to violate the program you will pay the price financially as well as personally."

The legislation also clarifies that placards are not transferable and the authorized holder must be present, entering or exiting the vehicle at the time the parking privileges are being used.

The proposed legislation also states that 50 percent of each fine collected will be distributed to the law enforcement agency or agencies that issued the citation or made the arrest. This includes the Secretary of State Department of Police, where 50 percent of the fine will go into the Secretary of State Police Services Fund.

There are over 455,000 placards and over 90,000 disability plates in Illinois.