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 1 Disabled Parking Signs Abused — Basic Story

Some disabled people have a special card they use when they park their car. These are called disabled placards.
They are removable signs that can be hung from the rearview mirror of a car. These placards are only supposed
to be for disabled people.
These placards are meant to help disabled people in a number of ways. They allow the person to park in special
parking spaces. They can also be used when dropping-off or picking-up a disabled person. A disabled person
can even use it to park without having to put money into meters.
Parking officials think that some people are cheating. Not all people who have these placards are disabled.
Today, one in sixteen drivers in California carries the sign.
There are a lot more people who have disabled placards today than ten years ago. A person from the DMV says
that there are many reasons for the increase in numbers. As people get older they may have a reason to receive
one. There are also more reasons that allow drivers to have one today. Finally, there are a number of people
who have them that should not.
Last year the DMV cancelled more than 25,000 permits. They found that lots of people who had the disabled
placards had died. These permits are no longer valid.
Some people are worried about the system being abused. They are worried that access to the program could be
limited because of misuse by others. More rules could make it harder for truly disabled people to get disabled
placards.

 2 Disabled Parking Signs Abused — Full Story

A disabled placard is a removable windshield sign that is to be hung from the rearview mirror of a parked
vehicle in order to park in disabled parking spaces. The placard must be used ONLY when a physically
disabled person is the occupant of the motor vehicle at the time of parking or when the physically disabled
person is being dropped-off or picked-up.
Parking officials say an increase in the number of people using disabled placards is pointing to abuse in the
system of issuing the placards.
Not only do people who have the placards get to use parking spots meant for those with disabilities, but they
don't have to put money into meters.
About one in 16 motorists in California carry the signs -- more than double the number who had them a decade
ago.
A spokesman for the Department of Motor Vehicles says an aging population, a broader definition of the
disabilities that qualify drivers for the privilege, as well as abuse of the system are all contributing to the
increase.
The DMV can't say how much fraud there is in the system. But last year it canceled more than 25,000 permits
when it ran a check and found the people they had been issued to had died.
Abuse of the program is upsetting advocates for people with disabilities. They're concerned access to the
program might be limited because of misuse.

 3 abuse

to use wrongly

 4 access

permission to enter or make use of

 5 cancel

to destroy the force or effectiveness of

 6 cheat

to use unfair methods to get something

 7 disabled

handicapped

 8 DMV

Department of Motor Vehicles

 9 increase

to grow or get bigger

 10 permit

a license; written permission to do something

 11 placard

a notice posted where it can easily be seen

 12 valid

legally binding

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