The City of Oakland’s embarking on a new effort to stop the illegal use of handicapped parking picards. Here’s the details:
Oakland’s Department of Transportation (OakDOT) has resumed enforcement that cracks down on disabled person placard fraud and abuse, and to ensure that parking remains available to those who need it. Sting operations will involve random audits of disabled person placards, issuing citations to individuals for using a fake or expired placard, or a placard issued to someone else. OakDOT will conduct these efforts across the city, concentrating on commercial district areas where our data show that fraud most often occurs.
Disabled person placard fraud and misuse is a serious and important problem that harms our disability community. When someone games the system by using a disabled person placard that belongs to someone else, or using a fake or expired placard, they deprive people with disabilities from using parking spaces that are intended to be available to them. In the past, similar sting efforts have resulted in more than 1,000 citations issued in a single year.
The City of Oakland’s parking enforcement staff are now part of the Parking and Mobility Division within OakDOT. The Parking Enforcement team is more committed than ever to promoting compliance and supporting the safe, equitable, shared use of the right-of-way. Disabled person placard abusers run the risk of being caught and cited by an OakDOT Parking Control Technician. The fine for misuse or abuse of a placard is $513.
To report parking violations or request enforcement in your neighborhood, contact OakDOT’s parking enforcement dispatch line. Dispatch operators are available Monday through Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm, at (510) 238-3099. You can also leave a message during off-hours and our staff will follow up with you.