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Committee hears bill to reclassify disability‑parking violations, increase fines and ease enforcement
Summary
House Bill 38 would change unauthorized use of accessible parking from a misdemeanor to a parking violation, raise fines and create penalties for false placard claims; disability advocates and local governments told the House Judiciary Committee they support the change to improve enforcement and accessibility.
Representative Greg Oblender opened House Bill 38 by describing the daily accessibility problems that occur when non‑eligible drivers occupy accessible spaces or access aisles. He framed the bill as an effort to strengthen protections for people with disabilities by making enforcement easier and increasing penalties.
“People that are in a car … might just run in real quick,” Representative Greg Oblender said, describing how accessible spaces and access aisles are used. He described the bill’s core elements: reclassifying the offense from a misdemeanor to a parking violation; increasing the first‑offense fine (sponsor described $150 for first violation and higher amounts for subsequent…
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