DeKALB | Every week, the Northern Star will uncover the truth about police myths.

Busting this week’s myth is Lt. Carl Leoni of the DeKalb Police Department.

Myth:

You can park in a disabled parking space if there is no upright sign marking the space.

False.

If there is no sign, but it is otherwise designated as disabled parking, a non-permitted person cannot park there without the risk of getting ticketed.

“If a person comes up to the spot and cannot decide whether to use it, they should just not use it,” Leoni said. “If they do chance it and use it, they’ll end up with a $250 parking ticket.”

This myth used to be true, but the law was changed.

“There used to be a law that said a disabled parking space had to be posted properly,” Leoni said. “Basically, the sign used to have a posted dollar amount under the sign and had to be approximately 3 to 7 feet high.”

In variations to these exceptions, violators could contest the ticket in court and the judge could rule in favor of the violator.

“The spirit of the law allows people to park [in the spaces] when they need it,” Leoni said. “The change of law addresses that the spirit of the law can be easily enforced.”

Recently there has been an increase in violations.

“Lately, we’ve had a bunch of college-aged kids parking in handicapped spaces in apartment complexes,” Leoni said. “They say they know that no one is handicapped, but that’s not to say a neighbor’s elderly relative is coming to visit or someone who was involved in a horrific accident wants to come visit a friend who needs the space.”

Katie Trusk is the police and fire reporter for the Northern Star.