South Carolina's new auto hangtags for accessible parking will include photo of the person with a disability

From Spartanburg, S.C., Herald-Journal:

A new state law designed to make sure disabled people are the ones who park in handicap spaces goes into effect Jan. 1.

Under that law, the blue (for permanently disabled) or red (for temporarily disabled) placards people hang from their rearview mirrors will include a photo, but not a name, of the disabled person in the vehicle. The placards, issued through the Department of Motor Vehicles, cost $1 and are limited to one per person.

Drivers with the current placards can keep using them until they expire or Dec. 31, 2012, whichever comes first.

"It would really only be effective to us if we happened to be in the area and we actually saw the person. When we write a handicap ticket, usually the person is not there. We would only issue a ticket to a car if a placard wasn't there," said Lt. Bill Michels, who is over the Spartanburg Public Safety Traffic Division.

"Normally, you assume if someone has a placard they have a legitimate reason to have it."

Currently, it's difficult for officers to question someone about whether they are eligible to have a placard to park in designated spaces, Michels said, because many people have disabilities that can't be seen -- a heart condition or an artificial limb covered by clothing, for instance.

"A 19-year-old kid could say, 'I have a bad heart.' Which he may. How would I know otherwise?" Michels said.

"How much it is able to assist us will be measured over time. It sounds like a great idea, and I'm sure it will be helpful, but it will be a minimal amount of time when it is helpful."

Master Deputy Tony Ivey with the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office pointed out that most traffic-related incidents in the unincorporated part of the county are handled by the Highway Patrol.

But Ivey stated he expects citations for handicap parking violations to increase once the new placards with photos become more common.

"It'll probably help to better put some accountability with who is supposed to be using them," he said.