Fraudulent use of handicapped tags up in Providence
4:49 PM Fri, Mar 13, 2009 | Permalink
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PROVIDENCE -- After the Verizon worker pulled into a handicapped parking space on Greene Street this morning, she told the police she was using her elderly father's handicapped placard because "she'd just dropped him off at the corner," said Sgt. Paul Zienowicz. But Joanne Pella didn't tell the police what federal records show -- that her 87-year-old father has been dead for a year. Pella, 52, of Cranston, was one of four people issued summonses within an hour and a half this morning as the Providence police continued to crack down on fraudulent use of handicapped placards. Last week, they issued summonses to construction workers using placards belonging to relatives, both dead and alive, to park for free at the meters. After a blitz of calls and tips from the public, the police decided to focus on downtown Providence, where it's not unusual to see dozens of cars with handicapped placards -- many of which Zienowicz suspects are being used illegally by employees at local businesses. "These people really don't think they're doing anything wrong, but it's fraudulent and it should be an affront to every handicapped person out there," Zienowicz said today. The violation carries a fine of up to $500. At 6 a.m. today, Zienowicz and Officers John Sigillo and Thomas Connetta set up watch on the few blocks of Greene Street. They wrote the first summons 15 minutes later. The first person was a woman who works at Blue Cross, parking at a meter with a handicapped placard that belongs to a dead man. Donna Simas, 58, of Johnston, told the police the placard belongs to her brother-in-law; federal records show he died last April. Another Verizon worker, Kristine O'Hern, 40, of Lincoln, was also given a summons for using an elderly female relative's placard to park for free at a meter, Zienowicz said. Dawn Lee, 57, of East Providence, who works at Perot Systems, was also given a summons for using her sister's placard at a meter, he said. The police were so busy writing these summonses that they weren't able to check on other people parking with handicapped placards on the other side streets. In this area, the police counted 11 other vehicles with handicapped placards, including two that were parked there before the police arrived. The officers need to catch someone in the act in order to write a summons, Zienowicz said. So, they'll be back again, Zienowicz said, this time checking the surrounding streets of Empire, Washington, and Broad, he said. The placards, meanwhile, are being sent to the state Division of Motor Vehicles, which will return them to the rightful owners. The state DMV estimates that there are more than 45,000 placards issued to Rhode Island residents, with about 1,000 requests a month. 
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This isn't like discovering gold in downtown, where have the parking Nazis been before this? This didn't start last week.
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I may sound corny to the typical Rhode Islander but besides chasing lost parking revenue this operation really does work freeing handicapped parking for those who are legitimately entitled. Next stop should be in Lincoln at Three Rivers and yes local hospitals where handicapped placards are frequently abused.
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Now go get the ones who put thoses nice white bands around the to hid all the info
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I've used a wheelchair for over 40 years and have been driving since the age of 16 and have never seen the abuse of handicapped placards be as rampant as it is now…. Thanks to the Providence police for doing something about it and for the ProJo for reporting on it. Here are a couple of suggestions that might help curb some of the abuse going on out there:
Put the placard holder’s picture on it… like they do in Massachusetts and a lot of other states. In Massachusetts they supply a sleeve that covers up the picture for privacy, but having the picture makes it harder for the non-owner to use it.
Something else is to repeal the part of the law that allows placard holders to not have to pay to park at metered spots. I could never figure out the purpose behind it… if you are disabled, and can drive a vehicle, or have someone to drive you, what is the problem with putting a couple of quarters in the meter??? The ADA and other disability laws are designed to give people an EQUAL opportunity… not a special privilege, why should we get out of having to pay to park??? As a person with a disability I want to more or no less than any other member of society, so not having to pay to park makes no sense. If that part of the law was repealed then the motivation to use placards illegally would be reduced….
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If you're gonna start busting people for this offense, why not also go after all the Rhode Island plates that are prominently displaying a police FOP badge? In my opinion, NO ONE should be able to have those badges on their plates. If you break the law, you should pay the price. Those little badges just shout out, "don't ticket me, I'm a cop or member of cop family". That's bullsh1t...............
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The only thing that I disagree with from this article is this: "These people really don't think they're doing anything wrong..." How can they not know that using someone else's handicap sticker/placard to park for free isn't wrong?
I'm glad that these fakers have finally been caught and I hope that they are not able to talk their way out of the $500.00 fine.
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No surprise here! I live in Rhode Island where the only things that matter are what it says on your license plate, having your cousin the State Rep get you a no-show job with the State, pretending that you're important by getting preferential seating at the Twin Oaks, and generally trying to impress people that all really know that you're an unintelligent, low-life, self-important anal orifice. What are you all going to do when Rhode Island goes into receivership and you lose at least half of your (undeserved) State Pension?
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Well, I know I am going to sleep better at night knowing officer Fife is on the job busting these criminals. What about the fireman who park illegally in front of the firestation on Washington St every day. Officer Fife just walks right on by. Just like everything else in this state. IT'S WHO YOU KNOW!!!!
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Parking in downtown Providence is a joke. I have seen meter mollies put fake tkts on their own cars, so they won't have to pay to park. Why aren't those cops out going after the real criminals.
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It's all about the money. The mayor needs money and extorts it from the people that are forced to come into the city to work. These people got fed up and tried to get out of it. They are in the trenches and see the unfairness that goes on with the parking. The mayor forgets that these same people also are spending money there when they go out to lunch and take coffee breaks and just go shopping. You think its easy going to work everyday and seeing welfare people just mull around and get that nice check. Keep working you suckers and pay your taxes so the welfare people can lay back and reap the benefits. And this idiot mayor will just keep taking more of your money. Funny he doesnt pay to park. And I am sure some of his and the cops friends also have illegal handicap placards.
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