SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois lawmakers want to get tougher on fraud and abuse of parking privileges for disabled people.
They've approved a bill adding an additional $100 to the fine for people who use a disabled-parking placard that doesn't belong to them.
The bill also goes after people who forge placards or obtain real ones through fraud. The penalties would be doubled, to $1,000 for a first offense and $2,000 for a second.
The measure would limit the number of disabled people who qualify for free parking. In the future, only people with disabilities that keep them from putting coins into a meter or paying at a parking garage would be granted free parking.
The measure was sent to the governor's desk Tuesday.
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The bill is HB5624.
Online: http://www.ilga.gov