Misuse of disability placards and license plates in the state is taking a blow.

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White recently announced a plan to reduce the use of handicap parking spots by people with stolen or fraudulent handicap permits.

“Disability plates and placards were created for those who truly need them,” White said in a statement.

NIU Parking Services also takes measures to ensure that the campus’ 172 handicap parking spaces are available for use by disabled students, visitors and staff.

“You either have to have a state license plate or a state-authorized placard to park in the handicap spots,” said Ronald Pearson, coordinator of NIU parking and traffic services.

Placards are issued by the state in three-month, six-month or 12-month periods, depending on temporary situations.

A state handicap license plate is issued to those who are permanently disabled.

At $100 the penalty for not displaying a permit for a handicap spot is the most expensive fine Parking Services issues.

“A handicap fine can still go through an appeal process,” Pearson said. “But an appeals committee would be less likely to approve such an appeal.”

With the way Parking Services issues tickets, it’s difficult to a driver is really handicapped.

“We ticket the vehicle, not the driver,” Pearson said.

One of the misconceptions people with permits have is that they can park anywhere on campus that has handicap accessibility, Pearson said.

“You need a permit for a lot as well as a handicap permit, unless you’re a visitor,” he said.

One place that vehicles with handicap permits have an advantage is at parking meters & parkers with permits don’t have to pay meters not only at NIU but statewide.

The 108 handicap spots and 64 reserved handicap spots around campus are adequate for everyone, Pearson said. NIU maintains the state minimum of handicap spots, taking up 2 percent of total parking.

Pearson, along with others at Parking Services, is working to make sure everyone’s needs are met.

“In our office, we do anything we can to help out the needs of a disabled person whether it’s permanent or temporary,” he said.andrea childress photo

NIU, along with Illinois, is cracking down on the use of stolen and fraudulent handicap parking permits with fines and increased ticketing.