With the busy holiday shopping season about to get underway, the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, New York State Police, Office of the Advocate for Persons with Disabilities, and the Albany County Traffic Safety Board today reminded drivers that they will be ticketed if they illegally use parking spaces designated for mobility-impaired drivers.

"State laws require parking to be reserved for people with severe disabilities, to provide access and reduce the risk of injury," said DMV Commissioner Raymond P. Martinez. "Parking illegally in spots marked for the disabled inconveniences mobility-impaired individuals and threatens their safety."

According to the DMV, through enhanced security measures announced earlier this year, a newly designed hangtag was approved by Governor Pataki to help law enforcement agencies reduce illegal parking and ensure access for the disabled.

The new tag has been formatted to include a punched out expiration date and a special security feature that incorporates 3 digits of the permit holder's drivers license or non-driver identification number right on the hang tag to verify the permit's validity.

State Advocate Richard Warrender said, "To add to Commissioner Martinez's appeal for drivers to be 'parking considerate,' I would like to remind the public that it is also illegal for anyone, including legitimate hang-tag and license plate holders, to park within the eight-foot, striped spaces, called 'access aisles,' adjacent to reserved parking spots. Access aisles are required so that mobility-impaired individuals have adequate space to raise and lower ramps or lifts used for exiting and entering their vehicles.

Warrender also said that his office supports the issuance of the new parking tags.

"This is a major step toward reducing the illegal use of handicapped parking hang-tags," said Warrender. "The Advocate's Office has worked at length with the Department of Motor Vehicles and others from across the state to develop a mechanism to accomplish this goal. Thanks to the hard work and diligence of all who have been involved, law enforcement will have an effective tool at their disposal. Equally important, this accomplishment comes with minimal expense to the public and virtually no inconvenience to handicapped hang-tag holders."

State Police Superintendent James McMahon said, "Dick Warrender is a strong voice for the disabled community and I commend him for his efforts. New York State Troopers will be working to ensure that disabled parking spaces are available for those who truly need them. Those who are too impatient or inconsiderate to park in appropriately designated areas will be ticketed."

Today's event at the Colonie Center in Albany also included Denise Figueroa, Executive Director, Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley, and Sheriff James Campbell, Chair of the Albany County Traffic Safety Board.

OTHER INFORMATION

Fines for illegally parking in spaces reserved for mobility-impaired individuals range from $50 to $100 or more, plus a $30 surcharge for local disability awareness and enforcement programs. Violations could include: the use of an altered parking permit; parking in a handicapped spot without displaying the required disabled parking permit or plate; illegal use of a disabled permit or plate; and, blocking access aisles marked for vans and other life-equipped vehicles. Officers ticketing disabled parking violators also can have illegally parked vehicles impounded at an owner's expense.

New York State has an estimated 2.5 million mobility-impaired residents who hold more than 50,000 distinctive license plates and 600,000 parking permits for the disabled.

Handicapped Plates by County of Residence (as of 12/31/2001):

Albany County 1,121
Schenectady County 586
Rensselaer County 691
Washington County 270
Saratoga County 799

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