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ALBANY--Raymond P. Martinez, state Commissioner of Motor Vehicles and chair of the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee, has urged drivers to avoid parking illegally in spaces designated for people with disabilities, including access aisles.
"State laws require parking to be reserved for people with severe disabilities, to provide access and reduce the risk of injury," Commissioner Martinez said. "Parking or stopping illegally in areas marked for people with disabilities inconveniences those individuals and threatens their safety. Please respect the rights of the disabled and do not park or stop in these designated areas."
New York State Police Superintendent Wayne E. Bennett said, "We ask motorists to be especially thoughtful during the holiday season, to be considerate and help assure that parking spaces are available for those who truly need them. State Troopers and local police will be ticketing vehicles that are not in compliance."
Gary O'Brien, chair of the Commission on Quality of Care & Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities said, "At this time of Thanksgiving, individuals with disabilities across the state will certainly say 'thanks' if you remember to obey the law when you are shopping and parking. Don't use parking spaces reserved for people with disabilities unless you have a parking permit or license plates allowing you to use the reserved spaces - including the marked access areas next to the spaces so people with wheelchairs have room to navigate."
New York State law prohibits parking in a handicapped parking space without a permit and requires the installation of a "no parking" sign at each access aisle to a handicapped space when constructing or altering a parking lot. The fine for illegally parking in a space reserved for people with disabilities can range from $50 to $150. In addition to the minimum fine for illegally parking in spaces reserved for mobility-impaired individuals, there is a surcharge of $30 for local disability awareness and enforcement programs.
Violations could include the use of an altered parking permit, parking in a handicapped parking space without displaying the required parking permit or plate, illegal use of a special permit or plate, and blocking access aisles marked for vans and other life-equipped vehicles. Officers ticketing parking violators also can have illegally parked vehicles impounded at the owner's expense.
New York State has an estimated 2.5 million residents with disabilities who hold more than 50,000 distinctive license plates and 600,000 parking permits issued.
11-22-05
© 2005 North
Country Gazette
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