Outreach

              Department of
Senior & Community Services
Jesse White
Secretary of State
Summer 2003
Inside:
• Reduced-fee military license plates
• Toll-free operators add personal touch
• Talking Book & Braille Service
• Staying active
• Car Accident Prevention
Secretary of State Police, Joliet Police
crack down on parking placard abuse
Secretary of State Police and the Joliet Police Department
recently conducted stings at the Chicagoland Motor
Speedway in Joliet to crack down on the abuse of parking
placards and disability license plates. More than 130
tickets were issued and all placards being used illegally
were confiscated.
After receiving numerous complaints about placard abuse
at the Speedway, the Joliet Police Department and
racetrack officials contacted the Secretary of State Senior
& Community Services
Department. A meeting was
held with track officials to set
up a plan of action.
First, a message about
accessible parking appeared in
the Speedway’s newsletter sent
to more than 75,000 race fans.
The message reminded race
attendees that law enforcement
officials would be checking parking placards and plates to
ensure the authorized holders were present when a
vehicle was parked in the accessible lot. The message also
was conveyed repeatedly on radio on race days.
On the day of the race, law enforcement officers asked
drivers entering the lot if they were the authorized
owners of the placards or plates or if the owner was in the
vehicle. When a driver answered, “yes,” the officer
requested a driver’s license and checked the placard or
plate number. If the authorized owner was not present,
the driver of the vehicle was ticketed for unauthorized
use of a parking placard or plates and the placard was
confiscated.
All confiscated placards were reported to the Secretary of
State’s office, and the owners of the placards had their
parking privileges suspended for 30 days until their court
date. If found guilty, the holder of the placard was
required to pay a $100 fine plus court costs. Once the fine
was paid, he or she could petition
the Secretary of State to have the
placard returned. A record of the
conviction was entered into their
file, and if further abuse continues,
their placard privileges will be
further suspended or revoked.
Many of the tickets issued were to
persons using a family member’s
placard without the person with
the disability present. Motorists are reminded that
placards are not transferable and the authorized holder
must be present when parking in reserved spaces for
persons with disabilities. By allowing others to use their
placards when they are not present, placard holders risk
having their parking privileges suspended or revoked.
For more information, please contact the Persons with
Disabilities Placards/Plates Unit, 217-782-2709, or visit
www.cyberdriveillinois.com.
“Placard abuse is a matter I take very
seriously,” said Secretary of State Jesse White.
“My office has taken an active role in reducing
the abuse of this vital program for persons
with disabilities, and we will continue to work
with law enforcement agencies and
community groups across the state to address
this issue.”