Parking cheats, beware

New rules designed to thwart able-bodied people attempting to misuse handicap placards are set to go into effect soon, a move disabled activists hope will open up more parking spaces to those who truly need them. Read More

Parking measure clears Senate

Bill aims to stop misuse of handicapped placards

A bill that would tighten rules for people who apply for handicapped parking privileges and strengthen penalties for those who abuse them has cleared the Senate and now moves to the House, where it has withered twice before. Read More

Tables turned on officer

A Charleston parking enforcement officer was dispatched to an illegally parked car on State Street last week. But she couldn't ticket the car she found parked too long in a loading zone because it was her own city vehicle. Read More

More eyes on parking cheaters

Enforcement boosted, garage opens

A spike in tickets, the opening of a new downtown garage and a recent newspaper series appear to have parking cheaters on the run. In May, The Post and Courier Watchdog team exposed how motorists in search of free and convenient parking illegally used parking privileges intended for the disabled. Read More

Watchdog Update: Handicap Parking debate

Last April, Laura Kirkham was a guest at Marriott Courtyard in Columbia and noticed these materials stored on a disabled parking space. Read More

WATCHDOG: READER REPORT UPDATE

The municipal service truck that an alert reader spotted parking in a handicapped parking space was a city of Charleston vehicle. Charleston officials confirmed for Watchdog Thursday that the truck belongs to the city. Read More

WATCHDOG REPORT: Disabled group photographs parking obstacles

They don't wear badges or carry ticket books, but their tactics may be just as effective when it comes to identifying parking cheaters. For the past year, a group of area residents with spinal cord injuries has canvassed sidewalks, streets and parking lots across the Lowcountry to photograph the types of obstacles that disabled people encounter. They've documented a variety of problems such as wheelchair access issues and handicapped parking violations, said Susan Newman, a nursing student at the Medical University of South Carolina who created the project as part of her doctoral dissertation. For the project, called Photovoice, Newman teamed with the Disability Resource Center in North Charleston and distributed digital cameras to 10 participants. Read More

WATCHDOG REPORT: Misuse harms the legitimately disabled

WATCHDOG REPORT: What can be done to stop parking cheaters? A lot

WATCHDOG REPORT: Handicap placards make it easy to cheat

Many able-bodied folks want to avoid feeding downtown parking meters

WATCHDOG REPORT: Parking cheats abound

People without disabilities using DMV-issued handicapped placards