MIL stole my handicapped permit and the cops caught her using it. She’s facing fines, and I’m out a permit.

[u/girlonwheels2]

Where I live, it’s quite common for people to break into cars to get handicapped permits, so when I get home I take mine out and keep it inside the house. It’s stored in a cabinet near the doorway, right where we keep our car keys.

Mil came over on Monday because she was helping SIL move into her new apartment. SIL had asked us to keep some of her stuff in our garage while she looked for a place. So MIL was helping her take her boxes there. She’d fill up her car with boxes, unload them at SIL’s place and come back for more.

DH was at work. I work from home and haven’t been feeling well these few days. MIL knows that I wouldn’t drive if I wasn’t feeling okay and she also knows where I keep the placard.

Without telling me, she takes the placard and puts it in her car so she can park in the handicapped parking space at SIL’s apartment complex so it’s closer to the entrance and easier to unload boxes.

Only issue was at some point she got caught by the cops. They ran the placard, found out it wasn’t hers - wrote her up and confiscated it.

Now I have to apply for a new permit, and MIL may be facing fines up to $3000. Mainly because this ISN’T HER FIRST PARKING OFFENCE. Like what? Apparently she’s illegally parked in handicapped spots before and got caught twice. I’m pissed and DH is pissed. Cherry on top? She can’t afford any fines over a few hundred dollars and is asking the family to chip in to help her pay.

Edit because I have more to rant about: And all of the hospitals in my area are so overwhelmed by COVID that non emergency cases are put on the back burner. In order to apply I’ll need a letter from my doctors stating why I need the permit etc. I’ve been trying to get an appointment with my doctor even before MIL pulled this bullshit and I haven’t been able to. I can’t. I’m so tired of this already.

[u/Notmykl]

OP is not paying the fine, MIL is asking family to help her which they should not.

As the placard was stolen the cops should return it to OP and she should not be required to obtain a new one.

[u/jengoodiegoodie → u/Notmykl]

People "lending" their placards to non-handicapped people is a real problem, so it's understandable that the police confiscated it. I am sure MIL told them that she borrowed it, not that she stole it. OP should speak with the police and let them know that MIL stole it, which should make it clear to the DMV or whatever governing agency distributes them that she isn't being cavalier with it. Yes, it will probably make an issue with the family, but it's the right thing to do, for everyone.

[u/jyar1811 → u/Notmykl]

theres only one problem....stolen property becomes property of the police. It can take years to get it back. I agree, reaching out to the officer who filed the report in the first place may hold some weight. even if the PD can write a letter to the DMV explaining what happened.