Parking in a Handicapped Spot With No Blue Lines, Sign Off-Center

[PandorasBox]

I work retail and I will go into a lot.....personally, if I'm on a yellow with a blue border...I'm not parking there. I'll take that spot in Beyond Frickin Everything instead of risking it...

[RaphaelTX]

I am handicap and work as a volunteer officer for accessible/handicap parking in Texas. THIS Should NOT replace legal advice from a lawyer with regard to your State laws governing handicap parking. I am NOT a lawyer.
1st: look up the laws of your state. Usually listed as accessible parking or handicap parking laws under Transportation Code.
2nd: Some states simply say if there a handicap sign at least 60" of ground marking the spot then you must obey it. Many states even if the spot is painted blue with the international handicap symbol but does not have the 60" sign that is compliant with states law then the officer can NOT cite the vehicle. Off center may not be an issue if the spot is clearly marked.
3rd. TAKE PICTURES. Document witnesses with you that can verify you were there. Take pictures before you leave the area. Most phones have a date /time stamp and can be used to indicate time photos were taken.
4th. Most violation are dealt with in a city or county level. Contact the city prosecuted or the county ADA well before any court date to discuss the citation. Most prosecutors are reasonable. You have a rich to contest this.
5th. The new Federal ADA laws are causing many states and business to redo parking lots to be compliant and better marked.
Here is the link to Illinois attorney general with accessible parking info. http://www.ag.state.il.us/rights/acc...e_parking.html
6. Your state driver license handbook will have parking laws for handicap spaces in it. Check it out.
7. BUSINESSES can be fined if not compliant with marking handicap /accessible parking appropriately. You can report this to the State AG office and they will direct you to the agency that surveys businesses for compliance.

Remember people are abusing and using handicap / counterfeit placards at record rates. Many municipalities have decided to aggressively enforce the law. Officers and prosecutors are fir the most part reasonable. I hope this helped you. Have a good day.

[puppybreath]

Areas with snow typically do not rely on pavement markings for enforcement, the sign itself is enough.

In my opinion though, that particular spot is NOT handicap parking, the striped area is not located where it would be usable from that spot. Lifts are on the rear or the right side (for curb service), not the left as would be required for use of that spot. At a guess, I would say that the sign got bumped by a plow. I doubt it would do you any good, even if the sign is in the wrong spot simply because the sign is there.