Handicap Violators on the Rise in Bel Air: Police

BEL AIR, MD — Six fraudulent handicap placards have been recovered this week in downtown Bel Air, according to the Bel Air Police Department.

Cadets regularly enforce handicap parking regulations in the Main Street business district, and what they are finding are bogus credentials.

Photocopied or expired placards with the dates changed using magic markers are some of the offenders, according to Detective Sergeant Jim Lockard.

“They’re not legitimate placards,” he said. “Some are completely created with a computer.”

This week alone, cadets have issued 11 violations, and there have been 44 handicapped parking violations since Oct. 1, 2015, police reported.

“It’s not new,” Lockard said. “But it certainly has gotten the attention [of law enforcement] at this point because of the volume of them.”

It is a violation to use a handicapped parking placard when not with the disabled individual.

“It wouldn’t be uncommon for somebody to have an expired placard or someone else’s placard,” Lockard said of past trends in violations. “But not to this point where it’s so flagrant that they’re manufacturing them.”

Said Lockard: “It’s just good work on behalf of our cadets, noticing these placards aren’t real.”

Penalties are Real

Police said the fine for violating handicapped parking regulations is $140.

“If you are caught with an altered or fraudulent placard, you could face criminal and serious traffic charges, costing you hundreds of dollars in fines, up to 12 points on your driving record and a potential for incarceration,” police said.

Handicap Enforcement Stats from Bel Air Police

• 6 fraudulent/altered handicapped placards found this week
• 11 handicap violations issued this week
• 44 violations since Oct. 1, 2015