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Published on Saturday, October 04, 2008
By LA Daily News Staff Writer
WOODLAND HILLS - Diabetes has settled in Ira Monatlik's body, enough to weaken the muscles around his eyes.
He has a pacemaker, and lately, his left leg aches because of a split disc.
But none of those ailments stop the former tennis instructor and athlete from driving his Mercedes to doctor appointments or for errands around town.
What does stop him is a lack of parking spots for the disabled.
"Children who have parents with placards, they are the ones that are using the parking spaces," said Monatlik, 62. "These are people in their 30s and 40s in all kinds of cars, who are completely healthy."
Whether because of cheaters or just more unhealthy Californians, those blue disabled placards have increased 75 percent statewide since 2001 - from 1.3 million to 2.3 million last year, according to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
The reasons for the surge vary: an increase in older drivers, recent changes in legislation, more awareness on how to get them
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