Police cracking down on fake handicap placards at festival
Law enforcement working with DMV to crack down on people attempting to use handicap spaces with fake credentials at this year’s festival.
With thousands of people looking to get parking at the festival, there’s usually always some people who try to avoid all the hassle and take a handicap spot they don’t need.
To combat this, Indio police will be checking and verifying that the person who has issued the placard is there and eligible to use that ADA spot.
“The thing about handicapped parking when it comes to Coachella and Stagecoach and why we take it so seriously is because those parking lots are so large that even though you get access to the ADA lot you still could be parking way in the back and it’s still a long distance to get up there,” said Sgt Dan Marshall of the Indio Police Department
Sgt. Marshall continued, “What we have done this year, we are working with one of our stakeholders, the Department of Motor Vehicles, investigator will be out there all three days all three concerts full force and we will be confirming and verifying that the person presenting the placard is eligible to use the ADA spot.”
Sgt Marshall says hopes that festival goers learn from last year’s Desert Trip.
“From Desert Trip, we wrote about 30 tickets that very first day and I am hoping to write zero this time and people will hear that message that we are going to be our there confirming that you are entitled to park in the ADA parking lots.”
For those who have a handicap placard make sure to bring the proper paperwork. If you get caught using someone else’s placard, police say it’s a misdemeanor which opens up the possibility to having your car towed and being arrested on the spot.
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