Courtesy of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, deputies will once again undertake enhanced enforcement aimed expressly at motorists’ illegal parking in spaces reserved for people with disabilities during the holiday season.
Announced on Tuesday, December 2, the Sheriff’s Office put the order into immediate effect. The enforcement will extend through New Year’s Day.
As such, Deputy Sheriffs across the county will be directing additional enforcement efforts to curb illegal use of handicapped parking spots throughout Suffolk County. Parking in these specially marked spots without proper permits is a violation of Sections 1203-b and 1203-c of the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
If caught, violators are subject to fines of $160 or more.
“The goal of this enforcement is to deter the unlawful use of these parking spaces, particularly during the busy holiday shopping season,” said Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. “Illegally parking in these designated spots adds unnecessary hardship for Suffolk County residents who truly need them.”
Whether to eschew long treks throughout a busy shopping center for an expectedly lengthy visit, or merely to be in and out in minutes for a quick stop, let Sheriff Toulon’s cautions serve as enough of a warning: the risk is not worth the squeeze.
Moreover, to deny easy access and mobility to those who desperately need it runs counter to the spirit of the holidays we’re all out and about preparing for. It is not a mandate to go out of your way to assist the disabled — but to go out of your way to provide a disservice to them is grounds for naughty-list classification.
Avoid that undesirable void by thinking twice before you illegally park. The Sheriff’s Department — and all local law enforcement agencies — are not working to criminalize you; they’re working to keep everyone safe.
Do your part by doing the same.