Illinois residents are now able to report disabled parking violations through a form on the Illinois Secretary of State's website, the Daily Chronicle announced Sunday. Residents who witness what they believe to be a violation of laws reserving certain spaces for individuals with disabilities are asked to obtain the vehicle's license plate number, the number of the disabled placard in the vehicle if applicable, the location of the alleged abuse, and a description of the reported violation.
Violations of disabled parking laws could include parking in a space reserved for people with disabilities without displaying a disabled plate or placard, or using a family member's disabled plate or placard to get a disabled parking space without the disabled family member in the car.
The Parking Program for Persons with Disabilities Abuse Complaint form cautions citizens against approaching someone suspected of a parking violation. Concerned individuals are encouraged to simply collect information about the vehicle and possible violation, then report it to the Illinois Secretary of State, rather than engage in any confrontation. The website also notes that not all disabilities are visible, and warns that reports must be based on facts, not speculation.
What do you think? Will the online submission form be a tool used to prevent abuse of disabled parking spaces, or will it be abused due to its anonymity and the threat of an investigation by the Secretary of State of the individual and incident reported?
Photo Courtesy Erk Pod
