Put the brakes on illegal parking

DO THIS- At left, a disabled person exits his van easily onto the 8-foot handicap parking access aisle. No cars are blocking his way.

If you've ever wondered about the purpose of those blue, diagonally-striped areas adjacent to, or in between handicap parking spaces, they are there for a reason. The aisles were required as part of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act so that drivers and passengers with disabilities can enter and exit their vehicles.

Two handicap parking spaces can share a common access aisle, but there must be at least one aisle for every eight spaces.

Many of the aisles are at least 8 feet wide so that drivers with disabilities who use vans or minivans equipped with side-loading lifts and ramps will have enough space to enter and exit their vehicles safely.

A blocked access aisle can make it unsafe for a wheelchair user, a scooter user, or anyone with impaired mobility to transfer to and from their vehicle. Block the access aisle illegally with your vehicle and you prevent drivers with disabilities from living life to the fullest. It is just as onerous as parking in the handicap space itself.

DON'T DO THIS- But if the aisle is occupied by an unauthorized vehicle, such as the white car in the photo to the right, the van's door will be blocked. When you park, try to be courteous.

By the way, the fine for parking in a handicap spot without a DMV placard is $430. Don't even think about it. You will get caught.