My friend and I are Hispanic baby boomers. Unfortunately, we both suffer from chronic illnesses. My friend has rheumatoid arthritis and has a handicapped placard that we use when I drive her to and from her appointments. Earlier this week, we tried to park in front of Macy’s and J.C. Penney but was unable to find an empty handicapped spot. I observed that all of the parking spots had vehicles with Mexican license plates and had handicapped placards hanging on the car rear view mirrors. I was under the impression that only state residents with a license plate can apply for these placards. While discussing this, my friend informed me that a relative in San Diego was approached by a female Mexican citizen who offered to buy her handicapped placard for $300. — Hurting Feet, Imperial
There is no residency requirement to apply for or possess a California disable placard, according to Jessica Gonzalez, a spokeswoman with the Department of Motor Vehicles.
And, really, the application for either a placard or a license plate isn’t all that stringent. As long as the fees are paid, the application is properly filled out and there is a medical certification attesting to the disability from the applicant’s physician, surgeon, chiropractor, optometrist, physician assistant, nurse practitioner or certified nurse midwife, it’s all good.
While DMV says who can and cannot have a placard, the enforcement is done at the local level, either by police or a parking enforcement authority, Gonzalez said.
From the letter, we weren’t entirely certain whether the writer was referring to California-issued placards or placards from other areas, or a combination of both.
In general, though, “every state allows the display of a disabled person placard in a vehicle with a license plate from another jurisdiction. It is also acceptable to use disabled parking placards and plates from other jurisdictions while in California,” Gonzalez said.
“Disabled person access is a matter of international reciprocity,” she said. “California placards are recognized worldwide and we treat visitors the same way in kind.”
El Centro police Cmdr. Jeff Mason said it isn’t often when complaints come up about suspect placards, but he said it usually happens in peak shopping seasons, like now.
He said when fake placards are discovered, they “have been found in cars with California and Mexican plates both,” he said.
Still, those caught misusing a placard or plate can be subject to anywhere from $250 to $1,500 in fines and up to six months in county jail, according to the California Vehicle Code. Intentional fraud, counterfeiting or forgery of the placards or plates can bring up to $2,500 in fines.
Mason said call the police if you suspect incorrect usage of the placards.
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