Proposal to raise handicapped-parking fine stalls

A proposal to increase the fine for illegally parking in handicapped spaces was turned down Wednesday by a committee of state lawmakers.

Members of the Legislature's Workforce Services and Community and Economic Development Interim Committee who voted against increasing the $75 fine to $125 noted the fines would be more than those for several moving violations, including driving on the wrong side of the road. Utah has the lowest handicapped-parking fine in the country.

If more funds are needed to help educate the public, which the bill's sponsor said the increase would underwrite, it would be better to ask for it in the upcoming budget, opposing lawmakers said.

The request has to do with a bigger picture than just parking spaces, said sponsor and committee co-chairman Rep. Steve Mascaro, R-West Jordan. A fine increase is a small but important indicator of the state's general attitude toward disabled people and whether they are welcome in all ways in all neighborhoods across the state, Mascaro said.

A survey of fines imposed nationwide, shows states that increased them — some as much as $750 to $1,000 — had a notable decrease in violations. Some also added community service as a penalty to help reduce the park-and-dash violators that everyone has seen at any grocery store.

Sen. Pat Jones, D-Salt Lake, said $125 might be high, "but if you're law-abiding, you don't have anything to worry about."

Sen. Ralph Okerlund, R-Monroe, said linking the solution of a problem to a fine is problematic. Given that many moving violations fines are less, "the punishment just doesn't fit the crime," he said.

e-mail: jthalman@desnews.com