SPRINGFIELD – Secretary of State Jesse White announced that police will be conducting parking stings at shopping malls statewide throughout the holiday season and ticketing individuals who illegally park in spaces reserved for persons with disabilities. This year marks the 15th year the Secretary of State Police have enforced the Parking Program for Persons with Disabilities at shopping centers on Black Friday in Chicago, Fairview Heights, Peoria, Rockford, Schaumburg and Springfield. Authorities will also be enforcing the program in other areas of the state throughout the holiday season. Drivers caught misusing a placard face a six-month driver’s license suspension and a $600 fine.
“Our mission is not to issue tickets, but to ensure that accessible parking spaces are available to those who need them,” said White. “Parking illegally in a space reserved for people with disabilities means a possible driver’s license suspension and a hefty fine, money which could otherwise be used on gifts. Remember, if you don’t belong there, don’t park there.”
Repeat violators will face a one-year driver’s license suspension and a $750 fine for a second offense; for third or subsequent offenses, violators will face a $1,000 fine plus a one-year driver’s license revocation. The fine for parking in an accessible parking space without a disability placard or disability license plates can be up to $350. Using a deceased person’s placard or a fraudulent placard can result in a $2,500 fine and one-year revocation of a driver’s license.
Currently, there are 521,038 permanent placards, 26,294 meter-exempt placards, 47,940 disability plates and 6,984 disabled veteran plates registered in Illinois.
