Full Notification

Nature of Incident: Disabled Parking Spaces

Location: Camarillo, Ca

Date & Time: September 19, 2019

Unit(s) Responsible: Camarillo Police Department Traffic Bureau

Narrative:

What you need to know about parking in/near disabled parking spaces.

Most of us know a friend or family member who is issued a disabled person placard and the frustration when drivers are parking illegally in disabled parking areas. Fortunately, the state of California has created several laws to protect these limited parking spots for those that need them.

We all know that it is against the law for any person to park or leave standing any vehicle in a space designated for a disabled person, unless the vehicle displays a disabled person placard or a disabled person license plate [CVC 22507.8 (a)]. Most of us also know that it is against the law for any person to obstruct or block access to a disabled parking space [CVC22507.8 (b)]. The intent of these two laws is clear,

California wants to reserve these areas for people with disabled placards or license plates. It is also important to know that it is against the law to park or leave standing any vehicle on the boundary lines of a disabled parking space or the pavement adjacent to the disable parking space marked by crosshatched lines [CVC 22507.8(c)]. Moreover, it is against California law to park a vehicle within three feet of any sidewalk access ramp (CVC 22522). These prohibitions are for everybody, including people properly displaying a disabled parking placard.

These two sections prevent anybody, including disabled persons, from partially blocking adjacent spaces or access ramps for other disabled persons. All too often, all the disabled parking spaces are occupied, forcing other disabled drivers to park in regular stalls. If drivers are parking on the lines or crosshatched marks around the disabled parking area, it limits the amount space for other disabled drivers to get their wheelchairs to the areas/ramps around the designated disabled parking spaces.

In Camarillo, we realize that some disabled drivers lawfully park in a disabled parking spot, but forget to hang their disabled person placard from the review mirror as required per CVC 22511.55(a)(1). Therefore, the Camarillo City Council allows the vehicle owner to appeal the citation, so they can provide proof of their lawful placard. After doing so, the fine may be reduced from $280 down to $18. So you have this option if you get cited in Camarillo for parking in a disabled parking spot when you forgot to hang your placard [CVC 22507.8(a)]. Remember though, the fine reduction does not apply to any of the other disabled parking violations.

Disabled parking spaces are limited. Be courteous of all drivers and park legally in and around these areas.

Prepared by: Sgt. Paul Richards

News Release Date: Thursday, September 19, 2019

Media Follow-Up Contact: Sr. Dep. Shawn Holzberger

805-388-5146

[email protected]

Approved by:

Commander Dave Murray