Jun 9, 2009 10:27 pm US/Central
2 Investigators Expose Meter Cheaters
Investigation Reveals Able-Bodied Drivers Using Handicap Placards To Park For Free
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Able-bodied drivers use handicap placards to park for free at Chicago meters.
CBS
Parking in Chicago is driving everybody crazy. And CBS 2 found something else that will make you mad: able-bodied drivers using handicap placards to park for free. It's a multimillion dollar scam and you're paying for it. A tip from a viewer led to an undercover investigation by the 2 Investigators and the Secretary of State Police. CBS 2 Investigator Dave Savini exposes the meter cheaters.
"You know what? Do you mind taking that off my face?" said Antonio Cabrera.
One after another, the 2 Investigators caught meter cheaters like Antonio Cabrera and Susan Schonfeld abusing a state law meant to help people with disabilities.
They and others were parking for free at metered spots by illegally using disability placards.
These placards were as good as cash for people like Ottie Bryant until she got ticketed.
And Sandra Hicks, who police say, claimed she found this placard belonging to a man.
If you legitimately have a handicap placard, you don't have to pay a penny to park at meters in Illinois. In Chicago, where meters cost as much as $3.50 an hour, those who cheat the system can save a lot of money over time.
Susan Schonfeld said she was using a placard "because I am picking up an old lady on dialysis."
Eventually she admitted the placard belonged to her mother who is deceased. CBS 2 conducted surveillance and documented placards reported as stolen or lost still hanging in windows in front of expired meters. And we heard all kinds of excuses.
Just listen to Deborah Mitchell's story.
Mitchell: "I have migraine headaches."
Savini: "You have a disability placard for migraine headaches?"
Mitchell: "Yes, I do."
Savini: "So you can walk fine but you have migraine headaches?"
Mitchell slammed her car door.
Actually, the placard doesn't even belong to her. It was registered to a man, says the Secretary of State Police, which patrols for placard abuse. After three days of tracing placards ourselves, we called state investigators and spent three more days watching them catch meter cheaters.
Diana Collins found an actual handicapped spot next to the metered area. But her placard was bogus says secretary of state investigator Glenn Florkow.
Florkow said the placard comes back to "a totally different person."
"She wasn't able to give me the person's name," he said.
We found one man, Samuel Liddell, a United States postal worker, who used a placard even though he was going to ride a bike to work. As soon as he parked his minivan and jumped on a bike, police swooped in.
Savini: "Why would you use a disabled placard if you're not disabled?"
Liddell: "That is a very good question."
It's a $500 fine if you're caught using another person's disability placard. You also can lose your license for up to a year.
On Wednesday night at 10 p.m. we'll tell you about a woman who could be saving up to $7,000 a year by illegally using a placard. Wait until you hear how she got it.
And we'll tell you what state officials say you can do to help catch meter cheaters. It's a new way to turn them in.
More on meter cheaters, tomorrow at 10 p.m.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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