Don’t abuse disability parking

Chicago Sun-Times: For unscrupulous people, disability placards have been a way to chisel Chicago out of more than $10,000 a year in free parking on downtown streets.

Gov. Pat Quinn put a stop to that by signing a law ending automatic free parking for people with the placards. After January 2014, only people who are physically unable to access meters will get free parking. Quinn also authorized tougher penalties for people caught using a deceased person’s disability parking placard in handicapped-only spots.

Last year, Sun-Times reporter Chris Fusco, whose work led to these reforms, found able-bodied drivers using fake, stolen and relatives’ placards to park for free in metered spots.