SPRINGFIELD — Springfield’s Chief of Police is defending a Springfield Parking Control Attendant’s decision to park in a spot that had the International Symbol of Access painted on the pavement, something commonly seen done for handicap parking spots.
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“There is an International Symbol of Access (ISA) painted on the ground, but that does not make it a handicap parking space,” said Springfield Police Chief Lee Graf. “Section 4511.69 of the Ohio Revised Code addresses required markings for handicap parking spaces...The locations shall be designated through the posting of an elevated sign, whether permanently affixed or movable, imprinted with the international symbol of access and shall be reasonably close to exits, entrances, elevators, and ramps.”
The chief’s comments on Facebook have drawn both criticism and support from people in the community. It has received more than 1,000 comments and has been shared over 440 times.
A photograph shared on the Springfield Police Facebook page showed there was not a sign posted at the spot.
According to the Ohio Revised Code, the signs designating the spot as a handicap spot “shall be mounted on a fixed or movable post, and the distance from the ground to the bottom edge of the sign shall measure not less than five feet.”
“We at SPD appreciate the public’s concern about this matter, but we also appreciate correcting the record when someone is mistaken about the law,” Graf said. “An educated citizenry is a powerful citizenry.”
Graf said the parking enforcement worker parked in the spot while they were getting lunch after they checked the North Bechtle Avenue shopping area for parking violations.
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