Is it really that important to park close to the building that you would be willing to park in a handicap spot without credentials to do so? There are some people who look at disabled parking spots and see those as a privilege. They are hardly a privilege; more so a fair and justified solution to a problem. There are people who have a very hard time getting around. Some of these people find themselves in wheelchairs, perhaps bound to a wheelchair all of their lives. Other people are old and have respiratory problems and cannot sustain themselves for long periods of time. And some are physically capable at almost all times, but are dealing with a short-term condition or injury such as a broken leg.
Regardless what the issue is, those people maintain a medical justification for their use of handicap parking spaces. If you are someone who is simply in a rush, that does not mean that taking a disabled parking spot is the right move. What many people fail to understand is how much of an ordeal it can be for certain handicapped people to get in and out of the car. Those spots are designed strategically, with plenty of space between them so there will be more ease getting into and out of the vehicle. If you take the spot simply to be closer to the door of the building, you are doing a disservice to the people who actually need the space.
As far as the police are concerned, plenty of them are probably happy to see someone violate this law. What could be easier for them? They are able to give away a ticket, one that can vary in price but for the most part it will be over 100 dollars. That money goes right to the city or state. Plus, they don’t even need to speak to you and deal with you fighting them about it. You’ll go into the store, get what you need to get, and when you return to your car, you’ll find a ticket on the windshield. It is as simple as that. This is worth taking into consideration when you are considering parking in one of these spots without the proper credentials.
It is important to note as well that simply having some sort of disability that would qualify you for a permit is not enough to take a handicap spot. You need to have a placard or a license plate or both. The only way to acquire either of those things is to apply for it with the state. It is going to require some paperwork to be filled out and you will need to get the approval of a licensed physician. In Colorado, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a physician within the state, it can be from a neighboring state as well. Also, Colorado does not require individuals to apply for a travel permit. In other words, if you are from Montana, for example, but you find yourself in Colorado, your parking permit is still valid despite the fact that it is from another state. Not all states have a situation like this, some require you to fill out paperwork for the new state resulting in a traveler’s permit.
So, if you have broken your leg and you think that you can now park in a disabled parking spot, you are correct but only if you take the proper steps to acquire the permit. If you think that the cast on your leg is enough to qualify you for the spot, you would be mistaken.
Violations
It depends where you are in Colorado, as well as the police officer’s discretion to determine the severity of the punishment if your vehicle is discovered to be in a handicap parking space without proper credentials.
The first and most obvious violation is that you are going to get a fine. The fine is reliant upon several factors including where the spot is, whether or not you have an expired permit, how long the car is there, and where you are in the state. For example, fines are a bit less punishing in Denver, Colorado. Generally speaking, in Denver the fine will be anywhere from $100 to $250. There are times where the fine will exceed $250, but usually that is about as high as it goes. There are other places in the state, however, where under a collection of circumstances you might find yourself paying up to $5,000. So, in an effort to save a little bit of time, you’ll find yourself a few thousand dollars poorer.
If you have a parking permit but it has expired, usually police officers will be a bit more lenient when it comes to the fine. However, it is a case by case basis. It also depends how recently the permit expired. If it was two days ago, you can expect the cop to go easy. If it’s been a few months, you probably won’t be so lucky.
It is also important to remember that if you are, for example, the spouse of someone who has handicap parking privileges, you can only park in those spots if that person is with you. If you are out driving alone, but you are not the person who needs the parking spot, you can be facing a fine.
Finally, in more severe cases or for repeat offenders, community service is a possibility as well. This will be in addition to the fine that you receive, and if the judge determines that community service is in order, you can probably assume that the fine is going to be a big one. If you have an expired placard and you fail to renew it for a long enough time, you might have it revoked altogether. Finally, if you move out of the state of Colorado permanently, your handicap parking permit is no longer valid.
Conclusion
Taking a handicap parking space from someone who needs it is inconsiderate enough. It makes life a lot more difficult for certain people, especially those requiring a wheelchair. That should probably be enough cause to not do it in the first place. But if that isn’t enough, it would be best to keep in mind that the fines for violating these rules can be pretty steep.