EFFINGHAM —
A new effort by the secretary of state’s office is focusing on keeping drivers out of disability parking spots.
The annual effort is an attempt to crack down on drivers who illegally use disability parking spots. The enforcement, which kicked off on Friday, will continue through the end of December.
“The abuse of these spaces causes lots of problems for drivers with disabilities,” said Elizabeth Kaufman, a spokesman for the secretary of state’s office. “Either they have to park far away or in a spot that makes it difficult for them to exit or enter their vehicle or for some people, if the disability spots are not available, they have to leave and hope to come back later when those spots are available.”
In the first weekend alone, statewide law enforcement officials issued nearly 60 citations, with 29 people receiving citations for improper use of a disability parking space or parking in the space without a placard or a license and 29 others were cited for misuse of a disability placard or using someone else’s placard. Twenty-nine placards were also confiscated.
Fines can range to a maximum of $500 for using a placard or disability license plates without the authorized holder or plates present to $350 for parking in the space without a placard.
“This is our seventh year conducting these,” Kaufman said. “The goal is not to give tickets. It’s to make sure those spaces are available for those who need them.”
The Effingham Police Department was made aware of the program and Police Chief Mike Schutzbach said the agency will continue to look for individuals who abuse disability parking spaces, as they do all year.
“Our officers are obviously observant of the parking situations in local shopping areas,” he said. “We do request that individuals let us know if they see someone illegally using the space.”
Schutzbach said he doesn’t believe illegal use of disability parking spaces is a big concern for the city but it is possible that more people could be using the space as the holiday shopping season begins.
“Obviously, at this time of year, more people are out,” he said. “But we’re looking to see if people are abusing those spaces year round.”
Jackson Adams can be reached at 217-347-7151, ext. 131, or jackson.adams@effinghamdailynews.com.
Local News
November 28, 2012
Effort to curb illegal disability parking underway
- Local News
-
-
Drug Court gives grads second chance at life
Greg Evans has been arrested more times than he can remember, spent time in jail, and been a drug user for 25 years of his life. At the Effingham Area Drug Court Graduation Friday, he hoped to put all that behind him. "The only hope we have is here t
-
Street closure
The city of Effingham has announced the closing of North Pembroke Street from Park Hills Drive to North Avenue will continue today, May 15, to allow the installation of a new sewer line.
-
Illinois Senate approves medical marijuana bill
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn must decide if he will sign a measure allowing the use of marijuana for medical purposes after the state Senate approved legislation on Friday.
- Effingham County Engineers set facts straight on fracking A pair of petroleum engineers originally from Altamont told an Effingham County Board committee Thursday that hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, was much less dangerous than opponents make it appear. Fracking has been a point of contention in many st
- Yoder pleads not guilty to stabbing death A murder suspect pleaded not guilty Thursday to killing his roommate. Charles Douglas Yoder, who turned 52 Wednesday, entered his plea through Public Defender Lupita Thompson during a brief hearing Thursday in Effingham County Circuit Court. Yoder ha
-
Veteran returns to past war zone to celebrate triumph
When Marshall Taggart, 83, of Hazel Dell first went to South Korea in 1952, he didn’t think he was going to make it out alive.
- Teutopolis officials discuss village growth TEUTOPOLIS -- Teutopolis village officials engaged in a lengthy discussion Wednesday about the future of their community. "You can talk about economic development, but until you get young families moving here, the community is not going to grow," sai
-
Community turns to Franciscan decades after death
TEUTOPOLIS -- While Brother Simon Van Ackeren was only in Teutopolis a short time before his death from tuberculosis at age 20, local Catholic youth born decades after his death ask him for intercession. Lisa Siemer, the director of Christian educati
- Board looking to review study contract The effort to study the efficiency of the Effingham County Emergency Telephone (911) System is moving forward, even with questions on how the contract for it will be reviewed. After Tuesday's 911 Board meeting, Chairman Nick Althoff said Intertech As
-
May 16 street closure
The city of Effingham will be closing Kentucky Street from Maple to Mulberry for construction on Thursday, May 16.
- More Local News Headlines
-
