Seattle cracking down on disabled-parking permits

A Seattle motorist ticketed last month for using the disabled-parking pass of someone who's been dead for eight years might have been unusually nervy, but certainly isn't alone.

"It's a growing problem, and many people are clearly abusing the system," said Seattle City Councilmember Jan Drago, introducing an ordinance unanimously passed by the council Monday to crack down on those who misuse the permits.

Mayor Greg Nickels, who had called for stronger measures against disabled-parking cheaters, applauded the council's action.

A city sampling in 2004 showed more than 75 percent of disabled-parking placards examined were being used improperly, but efforts to curb the abuse have been restricted by the fact that, in most cases, citations had to be presented directly to the driver, meaning an officer needed to be present when the motorist arrived or departed.

In addition, the fine for using an expired permit has been only $38.

But under provisions passed Monday, a ticket carrying a $250 fine can be left on the vehicle if a computer check shows the placard is invalid — either expired, reported lost or stolen or issued to a person who has died.

The practical effect is that citations now can be written by all 80 of the city's parking-enforcement officers, instead of the half-dozen task-force members who've had the assignment until now, said William Edwards, parking-enforcement director for the Seattle Police Department.

Edwards said 74 citations involving disabled-parking passes were written last month. In half of those cases, he said, the permit itself was invalid for one reason or another.

The problem is particularly acute, Edwards said, around hospitals, clinics and schools — some of he destinations where disabled people most often need access, but find all parking spots already taken by other vehicles with disabled-parking placards.

"People who legitimately use these permits are being denied the accessibility they need by others who are just trying to get out of paying for parking." Edwards said.

Statewide, the Department of Licensing currently has more than 1,059,000 active disabled-parking permits — either permanent or temporary — including nearly 85,000 issued to drivers with Seattle addresses, said Brad Benfield, licensing spokesman.

In addition, Benfield said the department has records of more than 757,000 "inactive" permits in circulation — permits that have expired or for some other reason are no longer valid. A qualifying applicant can get two parking placards, for which there is no charge.

When a permit holder dies, his or her parking placards are supposed to be returned to the Department of Licensing, but Benfield acknowledged that they are not in many cases. He said the state relies on local law-enforcement agencies to police the use of the permits.

Drago, chair of the council's Transportation Committee, said on-street parking has continually been getting harder to find in Seattle. Parking-pass abusers are compounding the problem, she said.

Jack Broom: 206-464-2222 or jbroom@seattletimes.com