‘Expensive reminder’: Pines police call out illegal accessible parking on social media
In a rush and thinking about parking in an accessible spot to save time? The Pembroke Pines Police Department says to think again.
The agency is one month into its newest tactic against illegal parking in disabled spaces — a social media campaign to highlight drivers guilty of the pricey infraction and ward off future violators.
Police say the posts — often paired with cheeky captions — are gaining traction and leading to a surge in leads from frustrated residents.
“The number of tips that we have received from our residents goes to show how much this issue has been negatively impacting our community,” Amanda Conwell, PPPD’s spokesperson, told the Pembroke Pines News on June 9.
“The positive response from our residents has been very rewarding to our traffic and road patrol officers, who go out of their way to ensure that people who illegally park in these spots face the consequences of their actions.”
A dozen Pembroke Pines drivers have been featured since the campaign’s impromptu start, a May 7 Instagram post exposing five vehicles illegally parked in accessible spots at Pembroke Pines Mall.
In place of each car’s missing disabled parking placard or tag, officers said they left an “expensive reminder:” a $250 fine.
According to Conwell, shopping plazas — many of which include gym parking lots, she adds — and local businesses are the most common sites of the violation.
“Not a great start to the day for this driver, who illegally parked in a handicap parking spot outside of UFC Fit,” teased a May 15 PPPD Instagram post showing a bright gold car.
“Is it worth $250 to park a little bit closer to a department store?” a post of a white SUV uploaded the next day said.
Many residents argue it’s not and took to PPPD’s comment section to express their frustrations.
“My biggest pet peeve, see it every day,” one user wrote under the May 7 Instagram post.
“More of this in every parking lot. People have zero respect for the disabled/elderly. Disgusting,” wrote another.
“Until I saw these recent posts, I didn’t realize how many people park in handicapped spots. Now I see them everywhere from Publix to Costco etc. It’s crazy.” a resident commented under a June 1 post.
But beyond putting a dent in offenders’ wallets, Conwell says wrongly parking in an accessible spot is especially harmful in Pembroke Pines due to one of the city’s vulnerable populations: disabled veterans.
“These individuals need these parking spots to safely and comfortably conduct their day-to-day business,” she said. “Laziness or convenience is not an excuse to illegally occupy these spots. Pembroke Pines has zero tolerance for these types of drivers.”
What does the law say?
So, what are the do’s and don’ts of parking in an accessible spot?
It’s simple: If you have not been issued a disabled parking permit by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, don’t stop, stand or park in an accessible spot.
“The biggest misconception is that the handicapped parking placard is assigned to the car, when in fact it is assigned to the disabled person,” Conwell said. “The disabled person has to be traveling with you if you are utilizing their placard. Otherwise, it is a violation.”
Violators are at risk of receiving a $250 fine or having their car towed to “any lawful parking space or facility,” including impound lots, the city ordinance says.
Parking access aisles — the bright-blue, often diagonally striped areas adjacent to a handicap spot — are also off limits.
If you have been issued a disabled parking permit, PPPD says your placard should be properly displayed, with the expiration date visible.
Per city code, officers and parking enforcement specialists have the right to demand to be shown a person’s disabled permit and driver’s license when a placard is being used. If the user refuses, the vehicle’s owner could be given a citation.
Want to report wrongful accessible parking? Contact the Pembroke Pines Police Department at 954-764-4357 (HELP).
“Not all disabilities or medical conditions are visible,” Conwell said. “Residents should never confront someone who they think is improperly using a handicapped placard.”
