Handicapp parking question

[jasc451]

I got cited for using my grandmothers handicapp placard. I have had 2 back surgeries and am being retrained by the state for my back disability so my using it is justified I just didn't know I had to have one for each person that is handicapped. My doctor has filled out the paperwork for me so I have my own now by the way. My question is the person who wrote me the citation was a animal control officer. He even told me he had been trying for 4 weeks to catch me. Is this usual for a dog catcher to be tracking down parking violations and writting citations?

[SgtScott31]

Not usual, but definitely possible. Not sure about WA law, but if he can write parking citations, then no problem on his part.

I don't see how it is hard to understand that you can't use someone else's handicap placard. Placards are issued to specific persons, not just anyone driving the vehicle it is attached to.

I am sorry for your back problems, but you should have had a placard issued.

If you have issues with animal control officers issuing parking citations, then talk to the county government.

[Tennsix]

I got cited for using my grandmothers handicapp placard. I have had 2 back surgeries and am being retrained by the state for my back disability so my using it is justified I just didn't know I had to have one for each person that is handicapped. My doctor has filled out the paperwork for me so I have my own now by the way. My question is the person who wrote me the citation was a animal control officer. He even told me he had been trying for 4 weeks to catch me. Is this usual for a dog catcher to be tracking down parking violations and writting citations?
At my previous PD, animal control officers were sworn LEO's with full powers. At my first PD, parking enforcement/animal control was a civillian position but they were empowered to issue citations for parking and ordinance violations.

[purdinpopo]

I am Not sure about WA but here the person the placard is for must be in the vehicle, to use the handicap space. From the sound of your story I would say you were turned in for your illegal use of handicap parking. Most Dog catchers have become code enforcement Officers, they handle the stuff that "real cops" do not want to handle, like parking, animal control, grass too tall, and other minor ordinance violations.

[sureshot015]

Like everyone else has said,
(In Florida)
1) The person who the placard is issued to must be in the vehicle
2) In order to write parking tickets you do not have to be a sworn officer. It is not uncommon to see Citizen's on Patrol and Community Service Officers taking parking enforcement actions as long as they are trained by the dept.. Now, I've never heard of an Animal Control officer writing a parking citation, but if that is one of the duties the dept. has tasked him with then there would be no problem with it. If he had the ticket book, he likely has the power.

[kirch]

Same here in WI -- the person to whom the placard has been issued must be in the vehicle for it to be parked in a Handicapped spot.

In your case, you might try fighting the ticket and throwing yourself on the mercy of the judge. If you show up with a note from your doctor, the placard issued in your name and are contrite about your misunderstanding of the law, there's a chance the judge will just toss your citation.

On a side note, they busted a group of people about a year ago around here that were making and selling counterfeit placards. Some crooks haven't a shred of decency...

[gotthblues]

I got cited for using my grandmothers handicapp placard. I have had 2 back surgeries and am being retrained by the state for my back disability so my using it is justified

sorry for your back problems, theyre a pain in the, well back, but..........

i am not sure which ****es me off more, people that "use" others permits, or that fact that he took it from grandma and now she has to walk from the back of the parking lot.

it is not "justified" for anyone to use it other than the person it is issued to.

[e-man]

I dont see how someone 'trained by the department' can write a STATE violation as written in the State vehicle code.. We had a problem in the Pittsburgh area with meter maids writing vio's under the state statute and until some lawyer got tagged they never got dismissed. He got a ton of them dismissed. Now if the animal officer in YOUR state is state certified, no problem mon... Fight the tix, maybe the judge will be in a nice mood, plus cant hurt to bring your doctors letter. Judge probably will find u guiilty but lower the fine,and tell you to not use H/P spaces until you get one from the state.. in PA a handicapped violation costs upwards of $231.00