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Bill would tighten handicapped parking regulations

JEFFERSON CITY - Rep. Chuck Graham said he thinks Columbia has ample handicapped parking spaces, but he still sees a lot of unauthorized people parking there.

Graham, D-Columbia, and the first Missouri representative to use a wheelchair, said malls are where he most commonly sees abuse of the spaces.

A bill, which was passed by the Senate Transportation Committee Tuesday after already clearing the House, would tighten handicapped parking regulations across the state. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Bill Luetkenhaus, D-Josephville, would increase fines to a $300 maximum for parking in handicapped spaces illegally and would more closely monitor who gets special placards and license plates.

"Currently, we have many more plates and placards out there than we probably need," Luetkenhaus said.

Under his bill, all placards would have to be re-certified with a doctor's signature and his or her Missouri medical licensure number.

Now, it is easy for someone to simply scribble a name on the placard application and call it a doctor's signature, Graham said.

"We don't have good enforcement of the laws," he said.

The bill, which has faced almost no opposition in the House or Senate, would put a tighter leash on who can drive vehicles with handicapped plates and placards. It would require that the disabled person be in the vehicle or that the driver be picking up or dropping off the disabled person.

The legislation also would clarify that police are authorized to ticket illegally parked cars in handicapped spots.

"Under current law, without this bill, law enforcement doesn't enforce the law on Wal-mart parking lots and other places because they're considered private lots," Luetkenhaus said.

Police can legally issue tickets on private property, but sometimes property owners are apprehensive to have police on their property.

Jim Tuscher, a lobbyist for the Paraquad organization, said he thinks the bill would make a noticeable difference in the handicapped parking situation.

"There's a lot of abuse of parking out there," he said. "It's a chronic problem around the country."