Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 20, 1993                   TAG: 9305200264
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DOUGLAS PARDUE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

TICKETS PROMPT LAWSUIT SALEM HANDICAP PARKING AT ISSUE

In a suit filed Wednesday in federal court in Roanoke, W. Radford Thomas accuses Salem police of deliberately ticketing his car even though state law allows handicapped people to park for unlimited time in metered or time-limited public parking spaces.

Thomas says in the suit that he complained to Salem police earlier this year when his car was ticketed outside Radsue Texas Bar-B-Q, a restaurant he owns at 110 E. Main St. in Salem. Police Chief Harry T. Haskins wrote him a letter apologizing and saying the ticket would be voided because it was issued by mistake.

A few days later, the suit says, a police officer walked into the restaurant and wrongly claimed that Thomas' handicapped parking permit was invalid even though the five-year permit still has a couple of years validity.

A month later, the suit says, Thomas was ticketed again, and again Haskins assured him the ticket was an error and would be voided. Haskins also promised to make sure officers knew about the law allowing handicapped motorists to park as long as they like without charge in public parking spaces.

But when Thomas received a notice that his fine had been doubled from $10 to $20 because he was late and he got a summons to court, he decided to sue.

Thomas, whose back was injured in a traffic accident five years ago, says he had problems in Texas a few years ago because of his handicap. "I do not want anybody to push me around anymore," he said.

Haskins says the problem may be that Thomas does not have specially designated handicapped license plates. Instead he has a temporary-type permit that is to be hung from a rear-view mirror.

Haskins says his officers were not harassing Thomas, but he wishes Thomas would get the handicapped license plates because it would "make it easier to spot."

Thomas says he doesn't want permanent plates on his car. "I guess I'm vain," he said.

The only thing he wants from the suit is a court order banning the tickeing.

Although Thomas is scheduled to appear in court today, Haskins says he plans to let the court know that police have erred once again. "I'm deeply sorry," Haskins says. "I wish they were more observant."