Disabled Parking Fraud

[ConcernedCitizen1]

What is the name of your state? Indiana



I have a question. A person who lives in my apartment building is fraudulently using his deceased girlfriend's handicap placard and handcap license plates here in Indiana. They purchased the vehicle together so he could put her disabled license plates on the vehicle. She has been deceased for 4 years now, and he said he's going to keep using her disabled placard and license plates so he can keep parking in disabled parking spots even though he isn't disabled himself. I called the BMV to report him and they told me that there's nothing they can do about it because they have no way of knowing that this woman is deceased. They said the only way they would know if she is deceased is if this same man reported it to the BMV, which he already said he isn't going to do. How can this man get away with this? He is taking disabled parking spots away from people who are truly disabled. Isn't there anyway the BMV here in Indiana can be notified of this disabled woman's death so they can discontinue her disabled license plates and placard?



P.S. I also contacted Vital Records here in Lake County Indiana and told them of the situation. They told me that unfortunately they cannot send a copy of this woman's death certificate to the BMV.

 

[Mark_A]

Most likely the BMV would have to request the death certificate, and not the Indiana State Department of Health (or the local health department where the death occurred), just send it them without a specific request. I would try and make an in-person appointment with a supervisor or manager at the BMV to see if they will request the death certificate to resolve this issue. It would help if you provided the following form with most of the information filled out for them:
https://www.in.gov/health/vital-records/files/Death-Request-10.2018.doc

Make sure to request a death certificate without cause of death.

 

[adjusterjack]

Isn't there anyway the BMV here in Indiana can be notified of this disabled woman's death so they can discontinue her disabled license plates and placard?

Suggestions:

1 - See if her obituary is posted online.

2 - Get the apartment management involved.

3 - Call a cop.

 

[not2cleverRed]

I called the BMV to report him and they told me that there's nothing they can do about it because they have no way of knowing that this woman is deceased.

Color me surprised. I guess Indiana lives up to pi being 3.

The Massachusetts RMV figured it out all by themselves that my parents died, and sent letters demanding that the handicap placards be returned or else pay a penalty.

According to the Indiana BMV site, disability placards are only good for 4 years.

BTW, using a the disability placard is only legal only if the placard owner is in the car - cremains don't count.

Presumably, at your apartment building, management is aware that the woman has passed. They can tow the car if it is parked in a handicap spot, even if has a handicap placard, because the person that it was issued for isn't using it.

 

[Mark_A]

According to the Indiana BMV site, disability placards are only good for 4 years.

Sounds like he has a handicap placard and handicap license plate for a car jointly purchased by the two of them.

 

[quincy]

It is always possible that the tenant, like his deceased girlfriend, has a disability that he chooses not to disclose to ConcernedCitizen1, despite what the tenant said to ConcernedCitizen1. Not all disabilities are obvious. Not all who have disabilities want to discuss them.

 

[zddoodah]

How can this man get away with this?

Not sure what the point of this question is - especially since you've described how he's getting away with it.

He is taking disabled parking spots away from people who are truly disabled.

Is he really? Are you aware of other residents in your building who are unable to used handicapped spaces because of this (or are you such a person)? If you're not, how is this any of your business?

Isn't there anyway the BMV here in Indiana can be notified of this disabled woman's death so they can discontinue her disabled license plates and placard?

Sure. You are free to request a copy of the death certificate and send it to the BMV. You can also contact your landlord and/or your local police.

 

[quincy]

… Sure. You are free to request a copy of the death certificate and send it to the BMV. You can also contact your landlord and/or your local police.

In Indiana, such a request for a death certificate made by someone with no direct authorized legal, financial or kinship relationship to the deceased will be denied.