Behind the Badge
With no disabled persons parking available in an overly crowded parking lot, the Drakes have left planned outings and postponed errands.
In seven games at Anaheim Stadium last season, they never once were able to park their van in the large disabled persons parking because it always was full.
They’ve fielded nasty notes left on their windshield for taking up two spaces when all the disabled persons parking spaces were occupied — the only way to park to leave room for a motorized wheelchair to exit.
La Habra resident Melody Drake said these things happen more often than many people probably realize and it’s, in part, because of people illegally using placards.
“You can’t always see someone’s disability, so you can’t judge based on that,” Drake said. “But there is abuse going on and sometimes it can be pretty obvious.”
La Habra PD Officer Jason Coleman checks the credentials of Costco shoppers at the handicap parking spaces.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Drake, a 20-year resident of the city, appealed to the La Habra City Council in September to promote spinal cord injury awareness week and share her experience.
Her husband, Ron, was injured in a motorcycle accident in December 2013, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down.
Since then, Drake said she’s noticed how difficult access can be, at times.
In her presentation to council, Drake talked about the parking frustrations she is confronted with in the city, along with other places in Orange County, and called on city leaders for help.
“Until you’re in that situation, you don’t see the challenges,” she said. “I’m not asking for anyone to go out and harass people who are legitimately using placards. The whole goal is to go out and talk to people who are hanging placards who don’t have a right to.”
City and police leaders heard Drake’s plea and put a plan to action.
La Habra Police on Nov. 8 partnered with California DMV investigators to target major shopping centers in the city to educate the community and also confiscate illegally used placards.
So far this year, police have issued 66 citations for disabled persons placard violations. In 2015, 88 citations were issued, said Sgt. Jim Tigner of the La Habra Police Department.
“A lot of those are people who may have forgotten to put their placard up and, if that is the case, fines are reduced substantially to a simple administrative fee,” Tigner said. “Our mission is to go after people willingly misusing disabled persons placards or plates.”
The California DMV reports about 2.4 million people have been issued disabled persons placards, and more than 125,000 have been issues temporary placards.
The DMV in 2014 launched “Operation Blue Zone” to target people fraudulently applying for applications after concerns about the illegal use of placards was brought to the forefront.
The most common kind of abuse includes drivers using a placard belonging to a relative or friend. There also have been reported scams of people selling placards on websites such as Craigslist and E-bay, according to the DMV.
The fine for misusing a placard is up to $300 but, in some cases, fraudulent use could be filed as a misdemeanor and be punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and up to six months in county jail, police said.
In La Habra’s operation, police split into two teams to target high-traffic shopping centers.
Officers staged near disabled parking and greeted drivers as they parked or returned to their cars. They asked residents for their identification and proof of registration for their placards.
Residents were pleased the police were out taking up the issue.
Everyone they contacted said thank you. One couple offered the officers fresh fruit as a snack, and others shared the frustrations they’ve had in finding ample parking.
“I’m so glad they’re doing this,” said resident Linda Lopez, 69. “Sometimes I get so mad because we can’t find parking. Believe me, us old fogies are legit, but there are people buying these placards on the Internet.”
La Habra PD Sgt. Jim Tigner talks to Sam’s Club shoppers who had the proper handicap parking credentials.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Arthur Oriza, also a La Habra resident, said it was the first time the legitimacy of his placard had been checked, and it was a welcome stop.
“I like this a lot. Keep up the good work, boys,” he called to the officers as he headed to shop at Costco.
During the operation, police and DMV investigators contacted 38 people, wrote one warning and confiscated one disabled person license plate.
Tigner said police plan to host another compliance check operation during the busy holiday shopping season when the temptation for abusers to snag front-row parking is greater.
Drake said she was happy to see the city and police quickly jump on something that affects so many residents, and she hopes it sends a clear message.
“I want La Habra to be known as the city that you can’t come to and illegally hang your tag,” she said. “For the people who need this, it’s a big deal.”
La Habra PD Officer Sumner Bohee talks to a woman as he checks handicap parking credentials at Sam’s Club in La Habra.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
The La Habra PD handicap parking team from left, Sgt. Jim Tigner, Officer Sumner Bohee, Parking Enforcement Officer Mario Velasquez and Officer Jason Coleman.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
La Habra PD Officer Sumner Bohee, left, and DMV Investigator Luis Hernandez checks the credentials of a woman in the handicap parking space at Sam’s Club in La Habra.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
