More people misuse disabled parking spots in winter months

SPOKANE, Wash. — Finding a place to park in downtown Spokane can be a headache. For people with disabilities, it can be even more frustrating when reserved spaces are stolen by drivers without an authorized placard.

Spokane tickets violators year round, but during the winter months when it’s cold outside and people are shopping, violations tend to go up. People get lazy and sometimes put their own interests ahead of those with disabilities.

Drivers parked in a disabled spot without a placard, or using one registered to another person, can be fined $450. The same applies for vehicles parked over striped areas next to disabled spots which make room for vans loading wheelchairs.

The city patrols disabled parking spots 24 hours per day.

Between December 2016 and December 2017, Spokane parking officers ticketed 2,762 drivers.

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