BOSTON — A bill authorizing the Registry of Motor Vehicles to investigate charges that someone falsely obtained a handicapped parking placard and allowing the RMV to require documentation to verify the stated reasons for a placard unanimously cleared the Massachusetts Senate on Thursday on a 37-0 vote.
The bill now heads to the House.
Sen. Eileen Donoghue, a Lowell Democrat who sponsored the bill, said it would increase accessible parking for people with disabilities by weeding out those who improperly use plates and placards to take spots reserved for others.
“The misuse of handicapped parking placards robs municipalities of much-needed revenues and prevents persons with disabilities from finding accessible parking,” said Donoghue. “This bill will benefit both disabled individuals and local governments.”
The 2016 Inspector General’s report entitled “The Abuse of Disability Parking Placards in Massachusetts” revealed rampant abuse of handicapped placards. The IG and State Police identified more than 300 cars that parked in downtown Boston using special parking identification placards issued to other people. The IG repeatedly found drivers using expired placards and placards that had been issued to individuals who had since died.
The bill changes powers and procedures at the Registry of Motor Vehicles to curtail handicap placard abuse. It empowers the RMV to require proper documentation before issuing a handicapped placard, and expands the RMV’s ability to detect and punish placard abuse.
“I applaud the Senate for taking this important step in support of a bill that will reduce chronic abuses of handicapped placards,” said Inspector General Glenn A. Cunha.
The bill imposes fines of $500 for a first offense and $1000 for a subsequent offense for those who lie to obtain or replace a handicapped placard; strengthens license-suspension for misusing a handicapped placard; creates a $100 fine for those who do not return a revoked or canceled handicapped placard; and allows for fines or imprisonment for those acting with intent to distribute placards illegally.
“The abuse of handicap placards represents a shameful practice that prevents people with disabilities from accessing much-needed parking close to their destinations. This bill cracks down on offenders and curtails the misuse of placards,” said Senate President Stan Rosenberg (D-Amherst) in a statement.
The RMV would also gain the power to revoke a handicapped plate or placard if the agency determines it was obtained falsely, according to a summary provided by the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.
