By Staff
Melissa Cason, Franklin County Times
Illegally parking in handicapped zones has become a problem in Russellville, and the Russellville Police Department is gearing up to put a stop to it.
"We are seeing people either parking the handicapped parking without a permit or they are parking in the blue striped lines for the handicapped parking," Russellville Police Chief Chris Hargett said.
The city wrote 82 parking tickets last year, but Hargett said that the number could have been higher.
"Parking tickets, including those for handicapped violations, are usually written by our traffic officer," Hargett said.
When the department gets another traffic officer, Hargett said the number of parking tickets could increase because the department will have more available manpower to enforce ordinances.
"When you park in the handicapped parking, you are preventing someone who needs that space from getting it," Hargett said. "And when you park in the blue striped zones, vans with wheelchairs do not have room to open their doors and extend their ramps."
Hargett said the fine for each handicapped parking violation is $50.