California DMV Keeps Sending Out Disabled Placards — To People Who Are Dead
- Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:20pm by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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Back in May we brought you this story about California drivers “abusing” disabled placards to get out of paying for parking, and essentially cheating the state out of millions of dollars in lost revenue.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles checks its database of disabled placard holders against state death records every two years, continuing to send placards to users even after they have died. (Media credit: Flickr user Rock'n Ro)
But part of the problem, according to a new report from the Los Angeles Times, is that the Department of Motor Vehicles keeps mailing those blue or red tags out — to people who are dead:
Don Cocek, a Los Angeles deputy city attorney who prosecutes traffic and parking violations in Van Nuys, said people are often cited for abusing placards that belong to others. “We have a lot of people showing up with dead relatives’ placards,” he said.
The DMV crosschecks its database of placard holders against the state’s database and removes those who have died from the system. The catch? The automated system check is only conducted every two years, meaning the list is never fully updated, and for a time the deceased holder — or their loved ones — will continue to receive a placard.
According to the Times, the DMV identified 56,000 deceased placard holders in this year’s crosscheck. When it started sending out new tags in March, it was aware of deaths only through Dec. 2009.
And there can be another glitch: If the birth date on the placard application doesn’t match the birth date on the death certificate, the system won’t recognize it, and the person will continue to be mailed placards.
While some return the mistakenly-issued placards, others don’t. Of the 2.1 placards mailed in March, about 100,000 were sent back, mostly because of death or an incorrect address, the Times reported.
The DMV said it is studying ways to make the system more efficient, either using private or federal databases or conducting crosschecks more often. In the meantime, a one-day sting in May resulted in 200 people being cited for illegal placard use.
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Comments (79)
Vechorik
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 6:01pmI’d rather a “dead person” be parking in the handicapped space than VOTING! In this day of computers, why can’t the states get a system 1/2 as good as credit card companies operate?
Report Post »michael48
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 6:18pmit’s the only thing Cali-Moscow can do correct or close anyway…eventually they’ll die…right???? just before they vote….
Report Post »Retired Rev
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 9:01pmI think the dead are disabled…maybe that is the point.
Report Post »Wait. IT IS CALIFORNIA there is not point.
fblair
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 11:56pmI have friends that have been living in Tennessee and Florida for the last 7 years and California still sends them a new tag every year or so.
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:33pmYou people stop making fun of the dead, at least 10% of Obama’s votes came from dead people.
Report Post »hdthoreau
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:47pmAnd there’s another 10% who, to this day, didn’t know they even voted.
Report Post »sooner12
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 6:07pmWhy do they check the status every two years. That’s absurd.
Also, I see people who look healthy using a handicap placard all the time. I bet the handicap person is probably home, dead (as the article said) or the handicap person is left in the car while the healthy person goes in a shops. Pi**es me off.
Report Post »SandyfromChesterfield
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:31pmIn Missouri you have to go to the DMV to pick up your handicap sticker. Guess that is too much to ask of those in California.
Report Post »chips1
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 7:47pmApparently in Springfield, MO. being fat qualifies as disabled. It’s 80% and the survey was taken at Mc Donalds.
Report Post »llotus
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:30pmThats why, if some point in your life, you may temporarely need one, it does no good because all these fakes are hogging up the spaces. If you ever have to use one you will be shocked that its almost useless. Lotus.
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:41pmThe dead will have good parking spots when they show up to vote for Obama.
Report Post »Fedupwithprogressives
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:30pmWell, if you’re dead, you are definitely disabled, I’d say.
Report Post »fliteking
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:29pmThe power of liberalism, no wonder Calif is sooooo far ahead of other States when it comes to budgeting ….
Report Post »WMAPAL
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:24pmThey can’t be dead yet – they still need to vote for Obama in 2012.
Report Post »HKS
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:28pmChicago style man, they vote forever.
Report Post »Byron1957
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:21pmJust goes to show you they give them to any body. They need to start over: do it right and give them to only people in wheelchairs. There are too many out there given to physically fit (take advantage of the system) people.
Report Post »HKS
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:30pmI guess the best people should get the best parking space. Liberals think their the only people.
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:33pmI agree that it’s abused, but being in a wheel chair isn’t the only requirement. You could have a heart condition that stops you from walking long distances, and don’t own a wheel chair…you use the one in the store. Most grocery stores have a couple.
Report Post »Bruce_Almty
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:10pmThey must be using the same computer system treasury does to send out stimulus checks to dead people. Kalifornistan, what a freakkin basket case.
Report Post »Elect more Dumbocrats
CatB
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:24pmDeath .. the ultimate disability … Dems want them (and make it possible) for them to VOTE ALSO!
TEA!
Report Post »Blue Collar Conservative
Posted on July 21, 2011 at 2:48amI’m sorry, did someone mention California, are they still there? I though for sure that giant back hole of debt and insanity would have sucked them clean off the face of the earth by now.
Report Post »EdBoo
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:09pmLet me guess! The liberal who runs the handicap program for CA doesn’t want to work too hard thus the two year wait to screen the death records. Then it probably takes 6-9 months to implement the changes which drags the suspense out even longer. Quality work by their good, faithful and overpaid public servant(s).
Yes – the electric carts in our Wal-Mart are usually in the custody of chubs. The men are the worst. They spread those gross fat legs out too far and take up even more space. Also many are ex-smokers there with walk-around oxygen bottles sitting in the basket.
I get hacked at women who zip into the handicap spots in their big SUV’s “just for a minute”. They are very special, of course. I also like to call the cops on their direct line loaded into my cellphone. They actually do respond and they do write tickets. You gotta’ love it – the ticketing – not the illegal parking.
I‘ve also had some success calling the cops on drivers who use mom’s handicap placard to park illegally. Women again more than men. You think they would smart enough not to wear work-out clothes when they do this. Duh! Great bodies and great minds don’t necessarily go together.
The best excuse I ever witnessed was at a Walgreen’s as the cop wrote him up. The guy said he assumed it was okay because he was picking up medications for his mother. Duh again! This was one of my better cop calls. I watched and thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing. It made up for being out of work at tha
Report Post »woemcat
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 6:22pmi love it!!!!! there used to be a TV show that put up a sting where people’s cars that were parked illegally would be towed. however, they would wait until the owner showed up and then, whammo!!! it was priceless to see the owner’s reactions.
Report Post »264win
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:08pmIn may day it was bad karma to pretend you were disabled to cheat the system.
But it is normal protocol for the “ME Generation”!
Report Post »angelcat
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:06pmUsing liberal logic (if such a thing exists), being dead IS a disability, isn’t it? Besides, dead people are very safe drivers. They never get killed in accidents and never need expensive medical treatment since they are never injured either.
Report Post »andyrm
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:20pmThey’re missing the point. It’s not a conspiracy. It just takes so long for the DMV to get the placards out that the disabled are dead by the time they get it. Then the next 2 years to clear it off the rolls!
Report Post »eat-more-bacon-USA
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:04pmIt really doesn’t matter anyway; the person to whom the placard is issued is rarely the same as the person who uses it and that person is rarely disabled (in the traditional sense of the word).
Report Post »264win
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:01pmI know a guy that is a paraplegic also missing both legs and arms and is legally blind and he still drives!
You probably wonder how he was able to get a driver’s license.
He Hispanic and doesn’t need a license or insurance this country he is a illegal alien.
Report Post »LadyIzShy
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:55pmCA is messed up this is just one small example
Report Post »Midwest Blonde
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:44pmMy aged mother had one of those placards (not Calif) even though she didn’t drive – she was allowed to use it when other people drove her around. She never left it in their cars either – it went in her purse, with her except when they were parked.
The state she lived in required the disabled person to actually GO to the DMV and re-register the placard when it expired – just like re-registering your license plate, except the placards were free. The point is, you had to BE there AT the DMV, to get the placard renewed, you had to show photo ID to get the placard renewed….. it was near impossible to get away with what they do in Calif.
Report Post »pajamash
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:56pmYou have to admit, at this point, they are resuscitatively challenged.
Report Post »Amma K
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:09pmI for one am sick and tired of seeing non-disabled people getting out of cars parked in disabled parking!! I have a brother who is a paraplegic and he is never able to find a disabled parking spot because all these other ‘abled’ people are in the spots meant for him. I don’t care what state is sending out all these placards – they need to go out to those who truly are in need. It is shameful!!!!!
Report Post »Sound The Trumpet In Zion
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:14pm“My aged mother had one of those placards (not Calif) even though she didn’t drive – she was allowed to use it when other people drove her around. She never left it in their cars either – it went in her purse, with her except when they were parked.”
Report Post »She was completely legal then because the placards are given to the people not to vehicles so actually even though they don’t drive and someone drives them. They have the right to use it because it is still difficult if not impossible for someone to walk long distances. This seems kind of funny but it really isn’t because if they can walk say for a certain distance and they use up most of that distance just getting into the store then they would be out of luck. I‘ve never heard before of someone that doesn’t drive having one but it does make perfect sense. I‘m proud of her that she doesn’t leave it in cars to let the owner of the vehicle use it wrongly.
Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:39pmHmmm, I have to actually go to the Ohio DMV to pick up my disability placard. I think too many fat people are getting disability placards, are using the disability parking, and taking all the disability carts in stores. I rarely see a REAL disabled person, anymore, using a cart in a store. It’s always a fat person. I know they may have heart problems, but how do you help heart problems? Exercise.
Report Post »I will usually try to get the furthest handicap space so that older people or more handicap people than me can use them. It usually ends up being a young person who is driving grandma who goes into the store while grandma stays in the car.
Midwest Blonde
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:39pmIn this day and age of computers, why check records only every 2 years?? This could be done weekly and not take up much more time than those lazy govermnent workers already waste on other things.
Report Post »CamoJan
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:45pmSo very true!
Report Post »LOOKING_BOTH_WAYS
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:56pmBut we all know that if a Gov’t worker has to do something weekly instead of every two years then we have to pay them extra, and I think they need to have a higher college degree
Report Post »Whostolemypig
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:34pmNo problem here, they have plenty of dead voters registered that are voting in elections every time around. They don’t care as long as they vote democrat. Look at the California voter verification system.
Report Post »A chipmunk could vote absentee ballot.
cessna152
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:41pmThis is a HUGE pet peeve of mine. All of these overweight, faking people using up the handicap spots. Leave those spots for the REAL handicap people that need them. I was at Walmart last Saturday and there were 12 Handicap spots and all were taken. I sat in my car and watched three people walk to their cars with no problem. I also noticed a woman driving around the lot several times looking for a handicap spot. When she got out of her car she needed the aid of a walker. Poor lady, these lowlifes are ticking me off.
Report Post »Oh, before you get all over my case saying you need this, I have a neurological disorder and I refuse to have the “poor ole’ me entitlement” attitude. There are people that sincerely need these spots. Please call out these fakes! I know I am fed up with the abuse of these slimeballs!
Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:42pmChipmunks, dogs, and cats probably already have.
Report Post »ObserverMI
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:33pmPar for the course of the ever sinking and stinking California.
Report Post »Islesfordian
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:33pmHey, dead is one heck of a disability.
Report Post »Live_Free_orDie
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:38pmAgree…they can’t see, hear, or move their arms or legs!
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:50pmDead people make bad dates, too. You have to do EVERTHING for them.
j/k
Report Post »Rogue
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 5:20pmbut they can still vote in CA! Call them handi-capable corpses, please.
Report Post »mossbrain
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:31pmI’m against special privileges for the handicapped. Have you seen how many unused handicapped parking spaces there are in front of any large store. It’s ridiculous to keep these open for the stray cripple who will use them. Cripples are the worst offenders of nannyism, always wanting special privileges, always wanting nanny government to help them.
Dead people also, they shouldn’t be out driving anyways. If they’re still here on earth they should fly through the air on their own. They probably expect a nanny heaven where God takes care of them. Sorry dead idiots, God does not support nannyism, you’ll be working for the long haul, all eternity.
Report Post »ErinLindsey
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:39pmHope you never develop a medical condition that would limit your mobility. You probably wouldnt be able to handle the stress of it.
Report Post »Midwest Blonde
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:40pmI do hope, Mossbrain, that you are being sarcastic? it’s definitely not funny though.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:43pmMOSSBRAIN
Report Post »You better be looking over your shoulder. Karma will catch up with you. You will be eating those words. No one can stop time.
cessna152
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:44pmErin,
I have a neurological disorder and there are people that take advantage of this. I personally do not use a placard because there are people worse off than me…so please save the “poor ole’ me” mentality. If you can walk you don’t get one… end of story. Enforce the fines and make it $2000 penalty. Overweight and lazy entitled people. That is what ticks me off… the abuse is rampant.
Report Post »LOOKING_BOTH_WAYS
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:52pmmossbrain = mossbrain……….do i need to say more
Report Post »chips1
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 7:58pmIf disabled placards were only issued to truly deserving people, the number would be reduced by at least 70%. That means a reduction of employees. Job justification?
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:28pmLOL…funny shiznit…they still vote too.
Report Post »SREGN
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:27pmIf it was Chicago, they’d be voters.
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:21pmWell….if you think about it,…..death is the ultimate disability. You cannot do a da*n thing when you are dead. California is dead also.
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