| |
NewswireTODAY - /newswire/ -
Sacramento, CA, United States, 2007/03/19 - DMV investigators and California State University, Northridge (CSUN) police officers teamed up and fanned out across campus, catching 24 students and faculty members accused of misusing Disabled Person Parking Placards to park in prime spaces.
|
| |
“We take very seriously the misuse of disabled parking placards,” said DMV Director George Valverde. “Able-bodied drivers who break the law are jeopardizing the health and safety of others who cannot and should not have to park anywhere else.”
Authorities made contact with drivers parked in disabled spaces who showed no obvious signs of disability at a dozen separate campus locations.
In 24 cases, placards were issued to someone other than the driver in question, including either living or deceased family members or friends. Officers confiscated the placards and issued citations that could result in fines ranging from $250 to $1,000, up to 6 months in county jail or both. The enforcement action also ended with the seizure of two vehicles and additional tickets for two people, both for driving without valid California licenses.
“Disabled parking placards must be approved by qualified medical personnel, and they authorize special privileges for people who are temporarily or permanently disabled,” said Valverde. “The process and the placards themselves are very clear – it is illegal to lend your placard to another person or to use another person’s placard.”
“Unfortunately, CSUN has some history of problems with disabled parking placard abuse. Our continuing partnership with the DMV on this matter is designed to enforce the law and remind the community that this is a serious offense that will not be tolerated,” said Northridge Police Chief Anne P. Glavin.
Previous operations at CSUN in the past three years have resulted in 65 citations and even the arrest of a suspected campus burglar. Working with the Los Angeles City Attorney to aggressively prosecute violators after these arrests, the conviction rate stands at 99 percent.
DMV investigators are sworn officers who conduct complex criminal, administrative and civil proceedings involving identity theft, financial and vehicle fraud, document counterfeiting, traffic violator and driving schools, and industry crimes involving new, used or commercial vehicles, among other duties. They conduct joint enforcement stings at the request of local parking enforcement authorities.
To report suspected fraud involving a Disabled Person Parking Placard or Plate, call 1-800-777-0133. For information on who qualifies for these privileges, access our Website.
Don’t Stand In Line, Go Online! Doing business with the DMV has never been easier. The DMV offers an array of services to customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through its Website (ca.gov), including online appointments for written and drive tests; vehicle registration and driver license renewals, selection of personalized license plates, changes of address, filings for Notice of Release of Liability, and payment of fees via secure debit transactions.
DMV (dmv.ca.gov) is a department under the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, which is under the direction of Secretary Dale E. Bonner. The DMV licenses drivers; maintains driving records; registers and tracks official ownership of vehicles and vessels; investigates auto and identity-related fraud; and licenses car dealers, driving schools, and traffic violator schools.
|
dmvmediarelations[.]dmv.ca.gov 
