RICK DAVIS, CORRESPONDENT [email protected], The Press Enterprise, California

Q: Ellie Chouinard’s email asked about the proper procedure for reporting motorists who park illegally in spaces designated for vehicles displaying disabled-parking placards or license plates.  

“The signs telling us it’s OK to call 911 to report (suspected) drunken drivers are all over the place,” said the Moreno Valley resident. “But I don’t think you would call 911 to report somebody in a handicapped-parking spot who wasn’t handicapped. Or can you do that?”  

A: No, you should not. Such an alleged violation is not an emergency and it typically would not endanger others if it continued for an hour or more, at which time a law-enforcement officer would have been notified in nonemergency fashion.  

A “reporting person” should utilize nonemergency numbers, which often are posted on signs around public parking lots displaying general information regarding towing vehicles and/or enforcing California Vehicle Code laws that apply in a parking lot or off-street parking facility.  

If possible, the reporting person should write down the location, date and time. Plus the make, model and color of the vehicle, specific observations that caused the observer to conclude there was a violation (such as no placard or disabled plate, or persons exiting the vehicle did not display any apparent type of handicap).  

“Bear in mind some physicians are quite liberal in signing the Department of Motor Vehicles form for a patient to receive the handicapped placard or plates,” said retired California Highway Patrol Lt. Mike Soubirous. “My father-in-law is wheelchair bound and has a placard. When taking him to restaurants or church, it’s amazing to me in seeing the many placarded/plated vehicles with people getting out and walking better than I do – let alone my wheelchair-bound father-in-law.”  

“Realistically, most local law enforcement will not make this type of call a priority to say the least,” Soubirous added. “But often they may have a parking-enforcement officer nearby.”  

It’s also worth noting that the person with the disabled placard/plate is required to keep paperwork in the vehicle, identifying him/her, which assists the officer in determining any misuse.  

Q: Speaking of justification for calling 911, Gregory Smith left a phone message describing continuing frustration with “seeing all these drifty California drivers on the road holding their cellphones to their ears and babbling away.”  

“Could I use 911 to report this?” asked the Sun City resident. “These drivers are distracted and it’s potentially dangerous.”  

A: “The Highway Patrol continues to crack down on distracted driving. But unfortunately, there are still many motorists using hand-held phones,” DMV Director George Valverde wrote in a recent driver-issues column. “Our department did check with the CHP on this. If you feel your safety or the safety of those around you is put at risk by the actions of another driver, do contact 911. Be prepared to provide a description of the vehicle, its license plate number, direction of travel and other pertinent information so officers in the area can locate the vehicle and respond appropriately. See “Distracted Driving” at dmv.ca.gov.  

Q: Renewing a vehicle registration by using a non-DMV website can streamline the process. But is there a downside?  

A: Valverde cited an example in a recent column. “One driver paid $55 more than the DMV charges,” he wrote. “There are legal, licensed private companies that charge extra – for the convenience.” 

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