Recently, the LAPD has been cracking down on the misuse of parking placards. According to officers, police have confiscated over 500 illegal handicapped parking placards from motorists in the past 7-months. Some of the placards have been made of paper, while others have been obvious fakes or from out-of-state. Some of the placards police collected were initially given out legally, though the owners made attempts to extend the expiration date.

While many of the confiscations included illegal, counterfeit, or expired parking placards, others were distributed legally but used by those who didn’t need them. In order for a parking placard to be used legally, the person for whom it was issued must be in the car.

So, where are people getting these placards? Some of them are made, some stolen, while still others are bought and sold online at websites like craigslist.

Illegal or misuse of disability placards is covered under California Vehicle Code 4461 VC and is essentially described as knowingly using a disability placard that is expired, invalid, or was distributed for someone else. 4461 VC covers only the use of actual, legitimate disabled parking placards. Those who are caught with counterfeit placards could be charged under California Vehicle Code 4463 which covers the creation and use of forged disability placards.

Penalties for violating 4461 VC is typically an infraction with a fine ranging from $250 to $1,000. Sometimes, though, individuals charged with violatig 4461 VC are charged with a California misdemeanor, which ups the possible penalties to include the same range of fines, and/or up to 6-months in county jail.

Those who are charged with violating 4463 VC, the creation or use of forged disability placards will face similar penalties. If charged with the creation of forged disabled parking placards, the possible penalties include a fine of between $500 and $1,000 and/or 6-months in county jail.

Those who are not charged with creation, but only for displaying the forged placard face the California misdemeanor penalties of a fine of up to $1,000 and/or 6-months in county jail OR a civil fine ranging from $250 to $1,000.

Robin Sandoval

Robin Sandoval

Robin Sandoval is a California Licensed Bail Bondsman and owner of SCV Bail Bonds. Robin writes blogs and articles to help increase community awareness of the bail industry. If you have questions or want to suggest a topic, email robin@scvbailbonds.com, visit www.scvbailbonds.com or call 661-299-2245.
Robin Sandoval
Robin Sandoval
Robin Sandoval

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