Update Your Accessible Parking Fine Signs
CCDI has Reserved Parking signs available for purchase, including the new $250 fine sign.
CCDI Physical Sign Order Form
Sign Prices:
12" x 18" Reserved Parking Sign: $26.00 each
12" x 6" $250 Fine Sign: $12.00 each
All sign orders subject to additional shipping fees based on weight.
Already have your signs? Update your fine.
Order a reflective $250 fine sticker that can be affixed over your existing $100 fine sign. The stickers are durable and are almost indistinguishable from the regular metal sign.
12" x 6" $250 Fine Sticker: $6.00 each
CCDI Parking Sticker Form
Here is how you order:
Contact CCDI at (217) 522-7016 (V/TTY) or toll-fee at (800) 433-8848 (V/TTY) and we'll fax, e-mail or put an order form in the regular mail to you right away. When placing an order by fax, stickers and signs are usually shipped the next day and will include an invoice. A shipping fee based on the cost of postage will be added to you order.
And the Law Says:
New Legislation Creates Stiffer Penalties for Accessible Parking Program Violators
December 2005 - New legislation signed by Governor Blagojevich in August will increase the fine for illegally parking in a reserved, accessible spot to $250. Other fines and penalties related to the illegal use, manufacturing and fictitious information used to obtain a disabled parking plate or license plate will also increase. The new law takes effect January 1, 2006.
With the Governor's signature, HB 1316 amends the Illinois Vehicle code in the following ways:
1. For vehicles not displaying a disability license plate, disabled veteran plate or placard parked in spaces reserved for persons with disabilities-- the mandatory minimum fine will be increased from $100 to $250. The maximum fine municipalities are allowed to impose increases from $100 to $350.
2. For vehicles displaying a disability license plate, disabled veteran plate or placard and parking in a spaces reserved for persons with disabilities when the authorized holder of the plate or placard is not driving the vehicle or being transported in the vehicle --the mandatory fine is $500, up from $100.
In addition, the Secretary of State can administratively suspend or revoke the driver's license of the driver and the license plates or placard. Suspensions and revocations were not allowed previously.
3. Persons who illegally manufacture or alter plates or placards, obtain plates or placards based on fictitious information, or knowingly transfer plates or placards to others so that they may use privileges granted to authorized holders of the plates or placards will be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor which is a maximum of $1,000 and subject to a fine of not less than $500 for the first offense. A second or subsequent offense would be a Class 4 felony with a minimum fine of $2,000 and a maximum fine of $10,000. Currently, all offenses are Class A misdemeanors. In addition, the Secretary of State may suspend or revoke the license plates or placards of the persons who violate this provision.
4. Clarifies that all restrictions and penalties related to license plates and placards for persons with disabilities also apply to license plates issued to disabled veterans.
HB 1316 was sponsored by State Rep. Kevin McCarthy (D-Orland Park) and passed both the House and Senate with little opposition.
"It is unconscionable that able-bodied people would abuse this important program and take parking spaces reserved for persons with disabilities," said Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. "I want to thank the Governor and members of the General Assembly for working with me to increase fines and suspend driving privileges for motorists who violate our disability parking laws."
Recent sting operations conducted by the Secretary of State's Police Department and other police agencies indicate that many people still consider it worth the risk to abuse the laws reserving parking spaces for persons with disabilities or use a placard or disability plate without the authorized holder present. A sting conducted near the Chicago Transit Authority's headquarters in mid August reaffirmed the public's disregard of the current fine structure.
Bill Bogdan of the Secretary of State's office has worked with the disabled parking program for a number of years and agrees the increased fines are needed.
"We have constant reports of placard abuse coming into our office," said Bogdan. "The last time the fine was increased was in 1996 when it went from $50 to $100. Now the $100 is no longer a deterrent."
Although the fine increase will take effect January 1, 2006, Bogdan said the Secretary of State's Office realizes it will take time to spread to word about the increases and bring parking signs into compliance. He went on to add that every disabled parking placard holder will have to renew in 2006. Updates to new placards will include a disclaimer stating the new fine structure and the penalties misuse can incur.
There are over 550,000 placards and over 90,000 disability plates in Illinois.
Learn more about Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White's Disabled Parking Program on-line at:
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