Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine presents the award to Major John DiPietro

The Miami Township Police Department was recognized on August 18 by the Governor’s Council on People with Disabilities for helping provide accessible parking for people with disabilities.

The awards were given by Attorney General Mike DeWine during a ceremony in the Ohio Statehouse Atrium.

In determining the recipients of the awards, the Governor’s Council on People with Disabilities considered the enforcement efforts by the Miami Township Police Department compared with other Ohio law enforcement agencies.

In 2007, Miami Township Police Major John DiPietro developed a special program to ensure enough handicapped parking spots are available around the Dayton Mall, especially during the Christmas holiday season.

“We’ve written more than 500 tickets in the last five years,” said DiPietro. “Typically, the person using a handicapped placard is not the person issued the placard.”

The citations typically result in $275 fines and are filed under state law that requires personal service of the citations on each alleged violator. In some cases, family members used handicapped placards issued to deceased family members, according to Major DiPietro.

Major DiPietro stated that at least one out of every five placards being used belongs to a deceased family member.

Efforts to stop the misuse of the placards are ongoing. Major DiPietro confirmed that Miami Township will continue to seek out those individuals who misuse the placards and issue citations.