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Once upon a time, I voted for a proposition that then passed, permitting people with disabity placards to park at meters without having to feed them. My "reasoning" that is was unfair to make people who had trouble walking hobble back and feed the parking meters.
What followed was my first experience with the Law of Unintended Consequences.
I'm not surprised to see over 25,000 disable placards belonging to dead people. I remember when I was at U.C.L.A. the parking meter area next to the medical center was always filled with doctors and nurses who'd examined themselves and found themselves disabled.
Now, 1 out of every 16 Californians is so disabled, they need to park at meters for free.
Come to think of it, I'm feeling a little limpy myself.
What followed was my first experience with the Law of Unintended Consequences.
In 16 California Motorists Has Disabled Parking Card
SAN FRANCISCO -- The proliferation of the disabled placards that allow drivers to ignore meters and use parking spots meant for those with disabilities point to abuse of the system, officials said.
About one in 16 motorists in California carry the signs -- more than double the number who had them a decade ago. An aging population, a broader definition of the disabilities that qualify drivers for the privilege, and abuse of the system are behind the increase, said Mike Miller, a spokesman for the state Department of Motor Vehicles.
"You know that there are some people who are just looking for a free place to park," said Francine Larkrith-Thompson, Oakland's parking manager. "Everyone is up in arms about it."
Those carrying the signs can park in time-limited spots without getting a ticket, and don't have to feed parking meters, which hurts city income, officials said.
The DMV doesn't know how much fraud there is in the system. But last year, after an annual check of death records, the department canceled 25,352 permits after finding out that the people to whom they were issued had died.
Abuse of the program infuriates advocates for people with disabilities, who are afraid access to the program might be limited because of misuse.
"It's a real problem," said Jan Garrett, executive director of the Center for Independent Living in Berkeley.
SAN FRANCISCO -- The proliferation of the disabled placards that allow drivers to ignore meters and use parking spots meant for those with disabilities point to abuse of the system, officials said.
About one in 16 motorists in California carry the signs -- more than double the number who had them a decade ago. An aging population, a broader definition of the disabilities that qualify drivers for the privilege, and abuse of the system are behind the increase, said Mike Miller, a spokesman for the state Department of Motor Vehicles.
"You know that there are some people who are just looking for a free place to park," said Francine Larkrith-Thompson, Oakland's parking manager. "Everyone is up in arms about it."
Those carrying the signs can park in time-limited spots without getting a ticket, and don't have to feed parking meters, which hurts city income, officials said.
The DMV doesn't know how much fraud there is in the system. But last year, after an annual check of death records, the department canceled 25,352 permits after finding out that the people to whom they were issued had died.
Abuse of the program infuriates advocates for people with disabilities, who are afraid access to the program might be limited because of misuse.
"It's a real problem," said Jan Garrett, executive director of the Center for Independent Living in Berkeley.
Now, 1 out of every 16 Californians is so disabled, they need to park at meters for free.
Come to think of it, I'm feeling a little limpy myself.
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