Heed the Sign, Avoid Increased Fines

If you look through the full Burlington Police Logs, almost without fail you will find them: Handicap parking violations.

For instance, on Nov. 30 police issued four tickets in one trip to the mall for violations. Other reports of violations regularly show up as violators are ticketed.

Since last September's Town Meeting, the price of a handicap violation has increased from $100 to $200. Burlington Selectman Robert Hogan, who is also the liaison to the Disability Access Committee, said the increase in fines was in part an attempt to curb violations.

"There are dozens of reasons people use when they violate handicap parking," Hogan said. "'I just need to run to the store,' 'There are plenty of other spots.' We hoped that if someone was willing to risk that with a $100 fine they might think second with a $200 fine." 

Hogan said the fees collected by violators goes to benefit handicap services in town. The funds are used for, among other things, automatic doors, large print books and computers at the Library, the elevator and a scanner at the that can read mail and other written items aloud for the blind.

Finally, Hogan said that sometimes people are given tickets for violating handicap parking when they don't deserve it. Temporary placards fall off of rear-view mirrors, for example. Any fine levied that a person feels is not justified can repeal at the

Otherwise, don't risk the ticket and leave the handicapped spaces open for those who need them.