Handicapped parking laws are sometimes ignored
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com

NANCY NEEDHAM/Acorn Newspapers RULES MADE TO BE BROKEN?- City hall parking spaces were lost for a while when a couple of city staffers told workers who were unloading drywall that it was okay to park in an area for handicapped parking.

Even though it's generally believed handicapped parking spaces are reserved for those who have a blue handicapped placard or special license plate from the California Department of Motor Vehicles, it seems some unusual vehicles are allowed to park in those spaces.

Usually anyone who parks in a handicapped spot but doesn't have a special placard or license plate from the DMV can be ticketed and fined $380, said Thousand Oaks Traffic Sgt. Bob Fleming.

But that doesn't apply to nonlicensed vehicles on public property, such as a nonlicensed vehicle carrying a load of Sheetrock for the renovations at the Civic Arts Plaza.

According to the driver of the vehicle, he was directed by city staff members to park in a couple of handicapped parking spaces outside of city hall.

"This is not something the police department would enforce, since it is not a licensed vehicle," Fleming said.

"That was the safest and most efficient way for them to do it and there were still (handicapped) spots available," city spokesperson Andrew Powers said.

While working construction on private property, these construction-type vehicles are allowed to be utilized. If anything other than a licensed vehicle were parked in a handicapped parking stall, the police couldn't cite it but the property owner could have it towed away, Fleming explained.

Charles Sallia, 83, has a handicapped placard and doesn't mind if handicapped parking is used for legitimate reasons, but the retired 30year resident doesn't like it at all when people who aren't handicapped take up spaces, he said.

In fact, that makes him angry.

"Most people are considerate, but there are 1 percent who only think of themselves and don't care about anyone else," Sallia said.

According to the DMV, those usually found parked in a handicapped spot are people with a placard who have impaired mobility certified by a licensed physician, surgeon, physician's assistant, nurse practitioner or certified nurse midwife.

Those with other conditions such as heart or circulatory disease, lung disease, a disease or disorder that significantly limits the use of lower extremities, specific visual problems or the loss or use of both hands may also qualify.

Those who have lost a leg or both hands don't need a doctor's certificate when they go to the DMV to get a placard.

A licensed optometrist can certify for blindness.