Carole Murphy of Hauppauge wants handicapped parking spaces kept clear of snow
Newsday Photo by Julia Gaines
I have a permanent breathing disability. During the winter months, I always have a problem with inaccessible handicapped parking spaces due to plows blocking them with snow. This happens in shopping centers throughout Long Island, including where I live in the Town of Islip. Why can’t local authorities stop this from happening?
--Carole Murphy, Hauppauge
While there is a state law that prohibits plowing-in handicapped spaces, the real problem is enforcing it, said Suffolk County’s Director of Handicapped Services Bruce Blower.
“The police officer must actually see the person shoveling or dumping snow into the space,” said Blower, citing New York State’s Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 1203. “Since most plowers work at night when the parking lots are empty, it’s tough to enforce… I’ve only seen one instance in Suffolk County in which a violation was issued.”
That violation occurred about five years ago, Blower said, when a Smithtown plower repeatedly left handicapped parking spaces inaccessible throughout the course of the winter. To catch him in the act, a Fourth Precinct officer staked out a parking lot until 2:30 a.m.
The fine for such a violation is $50, and $200 for subsequent violations, which Blower says is not much of a deterrent to many large plowing companies.“They’re often getting paid thousands of dollars, so they’ll risk a $50 fine.”
Currently, Blower’s office is seeking to change state law so that property owners - not plowing companies - will be held accountable if handicapped spaces are blocked. Then police can issue a ticket to property owners, eliminating the need tocatch plowers in the act.
Blower said his office also sends notices to all Suffolk towns and plowing companies each fall reminding them to keep handicapped spaces open.
Suffolk County residents experiencing a problem with handicapped parking spaces should call the Office of Handicapped Services at 631-853-8333. The agency will contact the property ownerand request the handicapped spaces be cleared.
Also related to this topic:
*State Vehicle and Traffic Laws
*National Snow and Ice Data Center
Comments (3)
enough with these people, if they want extra benefits let them pay for it. I am disabled and I am furious at all the bitchin these so called invalids do these days.. I never get the h-capp parking space at the malls, they can walk the entire day at the mall , but bitch because they cant get a spot close to the entrance....enough already
Where does it say that she walks the mall the whole day? She has a legitimate disability as per NYS. If you are having such problems with parking, contact your local councilman or woman. Take action.
"I have a permanent breathing disability"
maybe you shouldnt be driving