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KCRA.org

February 18, 2010

Handicapped Parking Violation Confuses Driver
Sidewalk Not Clearly Marked, Woman Says

A ticket issued in an Antelope neighborhood for a handicapped-parking violation has neighbors buzzing about a state vehicle code.

Marcia Harris has lived in her neighborhood for 10 years. Last week, her friend Doralice Rice parked there.

"I walked to my car and I saw this ticket," Rice said.

She said the fine for blocking sidewalk wheelchair access floored her.

"There is no sign for wheelchair, so I was shocked," Rice said. "And $404 -- that's a lot of money."

Harris said the sidewalk needs a better indicator if it's for handicapped access.

The state vehicle code prohibits parking in front of a curb that's been cut down, lowered or constructed for wheelchair accessibility to a sidewalk. According to the code, the sidewalk doesn't have to be marked.

The sheriff's department issued 454 citations for the violation last year.

There are other access points in the neighborhood as well, and apparently other neighbors have had problems and concerns.

One curb has a hand-painted red stripe on it, but the Sacramento County Department of Transportation said it's also illegal to paint your own curb.

Margaret Johnson of Disability Rights California saw KCRA 3's video and said the curb ramp is obvious by the indentation and grooves on either side. She said she's sympathetic to anyone who gets a big ticket, but says the ramps are critical.

"I might have to go far out of my way to cross over at some other point, so whether that's worth $400 dollars of inconvenience, I don't know," Johnson said.

Rice can contest the ticket and hopes this will serve as a warning to other drivers.

The sheriff's department said anyone has the right to contest a ticket and that if they have a valid reason, parking enforcement tries to err on the side of the violator.

Rice said she couldn't see the indentation because she was parked at night.