New Illinois law limits disabled parking exemption

SPRINGFIELD — A new law will crack down on misuse of disabled parking permits in Illinois.

The (Springfield) State Journal-Register reports 683,000 drivers in the state have been exempt from parking meters because they have the special disabled placards. But a new law that goes into effect next year limits the exemptions only to disabled drivers who can’t access or operate the meters.

Bill Bogdan is the disability liaison for the Illinois secretary of state’s office.

He says the system was created to crack down on fraud.

As drivers renew their placards, they’re being told about the new requirement. To get the parking meter exemption, people will need to provide documentation from a physician.

Bogdan says only 10 to 15 percent of disabled drivers are expected to qualify.