Handicap-Placard Violations Could Change

Park in a handicap space using Grandpa's disability placard and the likelihood of getting caught—and cited—could grow in the next year.

The penalty, however, wouldn't be as severe.

Just as they have done with rules regulating leafblowers and bike-riding, city officials are looking into the possibility of changing violations for the misuse of handicap placards from a misdemeanor—which can lead to jailtime—to an administrative infraction—which results in fines.

The change would allow tickets to be issued by civilian parking officers, instead of solely by sworn police, Lt. Jay Trisler told the Santa Monica Disabilities Commission on Monday night.

"We’re in the midst of trying to look at all misdemeanor codes and municipal codes," he said of local traffic-related laws.

Currently, when civilian traffic service officers have determined a placard is being used illegally—they actually have to observe the violation to be sure—they call in police to confiscate it and write a ticket.

Violations include using an expired, lost, or stolen placard, or one belonging to someone who has died; using a placard without an ID and blocking access to a handicap space.

Penalties include fines of $1,000 or a maximum jail sentence of six months. Forgery and trading in counterfeit or genuine placards invite higher penalties, including time in state prison, according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

In the past six months, the Santa Monica Police Department has issued 399 citations and made six arrests for violations—a big jump from 2008-10, according to data obtained by the commission, when the number of citations annually ranged from 81 to 100.

Trisler did not have statistics from 2011. He was promoted to oversee the division in January 2012.

One of his first priorities in his new assignment, Trisler said, was recognizing the "importance of doing this enforcement. So our guys have really been hitting it hard."

He expects to present a series of "cleanup" changes to local ordinances to the city attorney in June. Any proposals will have to be reviewed and approved by the .

An advisory board to the council, the Disabilities Commission said Monday that it's interested in giving its recommending approval of broadening enforcement of the handicap-placard violations.

Stay up to date on Santa Monica news and events, by following @StaMonicaPatch and by “liking” us on Facebook.