New law would combat abuse of disability placards

By Elizabeth Daley, Bay City News Service

March 28, 2007

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) - In an effort to combat abuse of parking placards intended for disabled drivers, San Francisco city officials have introduced new legislation that aims to crack down on people who are not entitled to the free parking passes.

The new law would establish a review board to examine the medical justification for specific disabled placards and look at patterns of placard issuance. It would also increase the fines for parking illegally in disabled zones from $250 to $350, the mayor's office announced.

The fine for misuse of placards would continue to be set at $500.

"The abuse of disabled placards is out of control. People who abuse disabled placards are essentially stealing from the city and preventing the legitimate use of placards by people with disabilities," Supervisor Aaron Peskin said in a statement.

According to the mayor's office, since October 2006, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency has cited 380 people for misuse of a disabled placard.

Close to 50,000 placards have been issued in San Francisco by the California DMV. Under state law, the placards allow drivers to park at meters for free without time limits, according to the mayor's office.

"The disability community fully supports a crackdown on placard abuse," Susan Mizner, director of the Mayor's Office on Disability, said in a statement. However, Mizner added, "The public should also know that many people have hidden disabilities and it is not always possible to know from observation whether someone is abusing a placard or not."

According to information on the Department of Motor Vehicles' Web site, eligible disabilities can include such conditions as visual impairment, heart or circulatory disorders or lung disease.

"We know of no other jurisdiction in California that is trying this innovative approach," San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom said in a statement. "Once again, San Francisco is taking the lead in addressing a statewide problem."

"The review panel will give us a new tool to take a closer look at the mushrooming number of disabled placards in San Francisco," SFMTA executive director Nathaniel P. Ford Sr. stated.

The SFMTA maintains a tip line at (415) 554-9818 for the public to report potential abuse of disabled placards.

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