Sticker shock — that’s what some people getting Tulsa handicap parking tickets have been experiencing.
Almost three years ago, Tulsa city councilors increased the fine for handicap parking violations from $150 to $500 dollars. It turns out several disabled people have been hit with the steeper fine. District 2 Councilor Jeannie Cue has received a few calls recently from cited constituents.
Section 525 of the city traffic code has paragraph A, which deals with displaying a valid placard, and paragraph B, which deals with blocking the wheelchair loading zones often found between handicap spaces. The issue is councilors made one preset fine for the entire section.
"If the council wants to make a change, they can amend the ordinance and come up with a new preset fine for section 525B," said City Prosecutor Bob Garner. "The city council has the authority to set all the preset fines on any traffic offense in the City of Tulsa."
People who receive a ticket are able to go to court and ask a judge to reduce the fine, but the city council will likely address the problem in ordinances. Most city councilors agree the fine for blocking a wheelchair loading zone is too steep for people with a handicap placard.
