EHANDICAP22Csf (04-21-10, San Jacinto, Metro) Riverside County Sheriff's deputy confiscates a handicapped license plate because the driver was not authorized to park the car in a handicapped space. Deputies held a handicapped parking sting in the Walmart parking lot to check unauthorized people from parking in handicapped spots in San Jacinto, Calif., April 21, 2010. Police have seen an uptick in stolen placards and misuse of the marked vehicles. (Silvia Flores/The Press-Enterprise)
Q: I know you deal more with traffic/road conditions, but perhaps you could provide guidance on handling a longtime issue with the DMV and the city of Oakland.
The next-door neighbor parked his RV in front of his home and mine. For decades, neighbors tried to get the RV moved because it is a safety hazard, creating a blind spot for residents with oncoming traffic. (Drivers use our street as a shortcut to avoid a traffic light at the next corner.) The city placed a sign prohibiting parking vehicles over 6 feet, but the neighbor got an exemption because he had a handicap placard (and later, a handicap license plate).
The neighbor passed away in May 2022. The RV remains at the corner with the disabled license plate. His son doesn’t live at the property, but comes once a week to move the RV on street cleaning days. My guess is the handicap license plate was issued to the father, so I plan to contact the DMV about possible fraud.
I went to the DMV’s website to see what’s required to do so, but it doesn’t state what documents I need to submit.
I suspect this family has connections in the city’s parking enforcement department, based on residents’ past efforts to get the department to enforce different parking ordinances on the block.
Linda B.
A: The DMV now sends notices to people who have had a permanent Disabled Person Parking Placard for at least six years, requiring them to confirm every two years that they still need one. They do not renew placards for people who do not respond. This is one provision of SB 611, enacted in 2017 to curb placard fraud and abuse. I’m trying to get an answer on how this affects license plates, as well as on requirements for reporting.
Q: Caltrans puts grooves on highways to increase traction and prevent hydroplaning. Could those grooves be used on local streets to deter sideshows? I think grooves would shred the tires of sideshow participants.
Douglas Ng
A: Yes, they would. All options are being considered.
Q: I thought the letter on July 5 was going to complain about the exit from northbound Interstate 280 exit onto Foothill, a very dangerous exit that has traffic merging from two directions and about 100 yards (?) to do it.
Joe Coughlin
A: And…
Q: There is a similar problem on the northbound 280 exit onto Foothill Expressway in Los Altos. A large bush blocks the view of cars which may be stopped at the Foothill Expressway traffic light. It could cause cars to rear-end those that are stopped.
Alan Templeton
A: That is a dangerous area. I’m forwarding these recommendations to Caltrans.
Look for Gary Richards at facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@bayareanewsgroup.com.
Originally published at Gary Richards