Walton County Sheriff's Office cracking down on parking violations

Sheriff Michael Adkinson is serious about policing handicapped parking.

As the result of a May 18 meeting with a member of the county's Americans with Disabilities Act task force, Adkinson said he will begin enforcing handicapped parking. He said he will issue a memo so that county code enforcement personnel can assist deputies in policing vehicles illegally parked in spots designated for handicapped permit holders.

"Handicapped parking has not been actively enforced," said Adkinson. "We will be proactive in enforcing it."

In the meeting facilitated by county administrator Ronnie Bell, Adkinson and Mark Weeks, City Marshall of Defuniak Springs, met with South Walton  resident Martha Heller, a disability advocate and active member of the ADA task force.

Heller, who drove a wheelchair accessible van for her husband for five years, cited two instances she personally observed of people violating the handicapped parking laws.

"Some officers are not educated on this matter, and it's unfortunate," said Heller. "A lot of times they're not ticketing and they should be."

Citing a recent case involving a golf cart parked in the handicapped designated spot at a beach access, Heller indicated part of the problem in enforcement is the driver must be present with the violating vehicle for a citation to be issued. In the past, officers have not always been willing to search for the driver or wait for them to return to an unoccupied vehicle that is illegally parked.

"The deputy will stay with the vehicle until they figure out whose it is or arrange to tow it. Whatever it takes, this will be reiterated with the deputies through our chain of command," said Adkinson.

Adkinson said golf carts fall under the same procedures and penalties - including a $250 citation - as any other vehicle.

 Heller said that by the time a deputy arrives on the scene of a citizen-reported violation, the vehicle may have been removed. She suggested the option of implementing a procedure of civilian ticketing, a response that has been tried in other communities, such as Asheville, N.C., and Houston, Texas.

Adkinson does not favor civilian ticketing, due to the element of putting citizens at risk. Instead, he suggested citizens report the vehicle tag number. Officers can then follow up with a visit or warning by mail, in the case of out-of-state offenders.

Adkinson indicated that license suspension can be enacted for unpaid citations, and is done as a matter of course. Violators have 30 days to pay citations, after which their license may be suspended.

Technology in the Sheriff's Office is now being upgraded and will assist in this scenario, allowing tracking of repeat offenders and sending of automated warnings to violators.

Heller described a second situation involving misuse of a handicapped placard. The violation took place at the Coastal Branch Library. Not only was the placard expired, the handicapped individual was not present in the vehicle.

"The driver said that he was going to the library for his mother," said Heller. In a case like this, Adkinson said that the placard could be seized and a fine of $250 levied.

"Abuse of handicapped parking as a convenience for the able-bodied is not legitimate," said Adkinson, adding, "Every deputy has discretion to act according to the dictates of the situation, and there can be extenuating circumstances."