Special Unit Targets Illegal Parkers In Suffolk County

HUNTINGTON, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- If you make your way out to one Suffolk County town, make sure to double check where you're parking.

The Town of Huntington has a special unit designed to ticket drivers who illegally park in handicapped parking spaces.

The Handicap Enforcement Program is lead by Sal Sanfilippo.

"It's very, very hard on people that are disabled that need that space," he tells WCBS 880's Sophia Hall. "They can't walk, they have a problem breathing, maybe they're on oxygen."

If you do park illegally, a photo of your car will be taken to show where it was located. In return, a ticket will be sent to you.

"People just being lazy, they don't want to be inconvenienced. They want to be at the front of the store and the closest thing to park, so they're getting in the handicapped space," Sanfelippo said.

According to the town's website, the HEP uses a group of core volunteers to identify and photograph illegally parked cars. When the volunteers turn those photos in to the HEP office, they are forced to sign an affidavit and the violator receives a parking ticket in the mail.

WCBS 880 reports that the fines can be over $200.