DMV Investigators Help Bust Disabled Parking Cheaters on Campus

California Department of Motor Vehicles
Media Relations Office
2415 First Avenue, MS F-122, Sacramento, CA 95818
Contact: Mike Marando, Steve Haskins, Armando Botello, Mike Miller

Northridge - DMV investigators and California State University,
Northridge (CSUN) police officers teamed up and fanned out across campus
Tuesday, catching 24 students and faculty members accused of misusing
Disabled Person Parking Placards to park in prime spaces, in a sting
that also ended with the impoundment of two vehicles.

"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 peace 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 any DMV-related issue, call
1-800-777-0133.

... It's a waist of thyme to putt yore trussed in spelling chequers
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