Roselle cops checking on handicapped parking complaints

Picking up his wife, who uses a walker, from the Roselle Metra station can be an exercise in frustration for Lawrence Crha.

The Hoffman Estates man says there's a long row of handicapped parking spaces along the north side of the railroad tracks in the station's main lot.

The problem is other motorists, who aren't disabled or picking up disabled passengers, illegally use the handicapped spaces or block them with their cars. It often causes a headache for Crha while he's waiting for his wife's train to arrive between 5 and 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

"These people who are illegally parking don't care," said Crha, who has called Roselle police on multiple occasions over the past five years.

Crha says the situation was especially bad Wednesday night when he arrived to find eight to 10 cars stopped in or blocking access to the handicapped spaces.

"There was only one spot open," he said. "I had to squeeze between one car that was illegally parked and another that wasn't."

After he called 911, Crha said, Roselle police responded by sending out officers who chased off the offending motorists. But as soon as the officers left, a number of people went back to ignoring the signs and clear markings that show where the handicapped spaces are located.

"It was a circus," Crha said. "They did what they wanted to do. They parked where they wanted to park."

On Thursday, Deputy Police Chief Roman Tarchala said he's going to take action on the complaints.

"I will alert our CSOs (community service officers) and our patrol officers to keep an eye on it," Tarchala said.

However, Tarchala said, the department historically has experienced very few issues with the station's handicapped parking. He wasn't aware of Crha's complaints until Thursday.

"None of that has been brought to our attention by our CSOs who are in the lot every single day," said Tarchala, adding that one of their responsibilities is to make sure no one is illegally using handicapped spaces.

If Crha continues to see cars illegally parked, Tarchala has a suggestion. "Have him call," he said. "We'll go out there and address it right away."