# Illegal to park in a worn-down handicapped spot? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 30, 2009, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-to-park-in-a-worn-down-handicapped-spot/494890 "2009-04-30T21:17:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Elyanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5ac83/32.png) [@Elyanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elyanna)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2009, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-to-park-in-a-worn-down-handicapped-spot/494890/1 "2009-04-30T21:17:30Z")
I live in California. I work in a run-down office complex, which is mostly empty because of the recession (and crime in the area). It is composed of several building in a row with a small, narrow parking lot running between them and behind them. The paint marking all the spots is pretty much gone. In some spots you can see flecks of white, blue, or yellow if you pay attention. In two or three particular spots, there’s evidence that they were marked for handicapped drivers. Remnants of blue paint, and a pole where I’m guessing a handicapped sign once was; the pole is slanted backwards and the sign is no more. In one spot, the paint is fairly obvious, but in the other two you’d have to get out and stare at the asphalt to see it. There are no other designated handicapped parking spots in the lot, as far as I can see. What’s weird is that these spots aren’t even the closest to anybody’s door. Could these spots still be reserved? Aren’t parking lots supposed to have handicapped spots? (I don’t park in these spots anyway, but I am curious.) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2009, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-to-park-in-a-worn-down-handicapped-spot/494890/2 "2009-04-30T21:21:21Z")
In Ohio, those would be free for the taking. No sign on a post, no legal importance attached to the spots. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2009, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-to-park-in-a-worn-down-handicapped-spot/494890/3 "2009-04-30T21:28:30Z")
Here is the California Vehicle Code on markings: > **[California Vehicle Code Section 22511.8 - California Attorney Resources -...](https://law.onecle.com/california/vehicle/22511.8.html)** > > California state laws including the Business and Profession Code, Civil Code, Code of Civil Procedure, Commercial Code, Corporations Code, Education Code, Evidence Code, Family Code, Fish and Game Code, Health and Safety Code, Insurance Code, Labor... ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2009, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-to-park-in-a-worn-down-handicapped-spot/494890/4 "2009-04-30T21:58:23Z")
For those disinclined to read the link, it looks like these spaces don’t fit the criteria for CA law. IANAL, YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2009, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-to-park-in-a-worn-down-handicapped-spot/494890/5 "2009-04-30T22:10:21Z")
In WA state, you could still be fined for parking there, but you’d get out of the ticket by showing the judge a picture - the sign on an upright post is also required here to make it legally enforceable. (My wife is a police volunteer who has recently been re-certified to issue those kinds of tickets).