Massachusetts Inspector General, RMV Uncover Abuses of Disability Placards

(Boston, MA)-In a year-long surveillance operation, investigators with the Inspector General's Office (IGO) and Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) documented widespread abuse of the disability placard and handicap parking program. The IGO report, which Inspector General Gregory Sullivan joined Registrar Anne L. Collins in releasing today, outlined numerous instances where able-bodied motorists fraudulently used the disability placards of deceased or elderly relatives to park for free in prime downtown Boston locations.

"When we began looking into complaints we received about the handicap parking program we had no idea we'd find so many people taking advantage of the disabled," said IG Sullivan. "As soon as it became apparent how pervasive the abuse was, we worked with RMV to initiate reforms and curtail the schemes we uncovered."

Registrar Collins said, "Disability placards and handicap plates enrich the lives of individuals with disabilities, giving them the parking access they need to work, shop and enjoy recreational activities. It's appalling that people who have the mobility and means to use regular parking would exploit the handicap parking program."

Investigators set up surveillance in Boston's financial district, on Newbury Street and around North Station, tracking 965 disability placards that were spotted 3,819 times. The operation found:

* Forty-nine placards were registered to deceased individuals.* Four placards were expired and the expiration date and/or placard number on another 155 placards was obstructed, leading investigators to surmise that more people are using expired placards.* 300 placards appeared to be used by someone other than the applicant and were sighted 1,200 times.* State Police confiscated the placards of 17 individuals who were cited for fraudulent use of the placards which is subject to a $500 fine and mandatory 30-day loss of driver's license.

In addition, the RMV and IG reviewed numerous altered or counterfeit placards confiscated by the Boston Transportation Department over the last six months.