After a city report was released stating that 60% of disability placards are abused, the San Diego city council decided to take action to help put a stop to the problem. As a result, now both police and parking enforcement officers are able to cite persons misusing disabled parking permits -and both groups should be expected to be on the lookout for violations of the law. It’s also worth noting that enforcement is strictly enforced at Qualcomm Stadium and other venues where the police monitor traffic. If you have been accused of violating disabled placard laws, a San Diego misdemeanor defense attorney can help.
Misusing a disability placard may be charged as a misdemeanor and may result in up to six months imprisonment and $1,000 in fines. More charges and penalties may be imposed if the placard has been forged or altered. It’s also worth noting that the person using the placard isn’t the only one who could be charged with this crime, if the person the placard belongs to intentionally lent it to someone knowing it would be misused they can also be charged with placard abuse. As you can see, this crime is something that should be taken seriously and requires the help of a top San Diego defense lawyer.
There are multiple defenses to this crime including getting your placard mixed up with one owned by a friend or relative, not knowing that someone took the placard from you and more. If you are accused of this crime, a defense attorney in San Diego can advise you on the best course of action given your specific circumstances.
If you have any questions about disability placard abuse, please call (760) 643-4050 or (858) 486-3024 to schedule a free initial consultation with top San Diego criminal lawyer Peter M. Liss.
Creative Commons Image by Peter Stevens