Man busted, cited for using "clearly altered" handicapped placard at Washington Co. Justice Center

WASHINGTON COUNTY -- A Town of Erin man was cited by Washington County Sheriff's officials after he was spotted using a "clearly altered" handicapped placard at the Washington County Justice Center.

It happened on Wednesday, May 4th around 1:30 p.m.

Sheriff's officials say deputies assigned to the "screening station" at the Washington County Justice Center saw a 19-year-old Town of Erin man pull a vehicle into a temporary loading zone area in front of the center.

The man then exited his vehicle and entered the Justice Center.

Deputies confronted the man about parking in the temporary loading area, and leaving his vehicle unattended.

Sheriff's officials say the man then returned to his vehicle, and pulled it into a marked disabled parking space. Deputies then watched as the man apparently rummaged through his glove box before placing a disabled placard on his rear-view mirror.

When the man then re-entered the Justice Center, a deputy approached the vehicle and noticed the disabled placard appeared to be altered.

The year of expiration was clearly altered to read "16," Sheriff's officials say.

Altered handicapped placard -- Washington County

The deputy was able to confirm through DOT records that the placard had been expired since 2003.

The placard was not renewed due to the death of the rightful owner of the placard in the year 2000.

When the man returned to his vehicle, deputies again made contact with him. Sheriff's officials say he acknowledged that the placard had been altered in order to appear valid. The man said the placard had come with the car when the family bought it.

Deputies confiscated the placard to destroy it.

The man then told deputies: "My father is going to be ticked," according to Sheriff's officials.

The man was issued a $264 citation for illegal use of a handicap placard.