Accessible Parking Rules Enforced At St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater

SYRACUSE, NY – The Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office is reminding patrons attending concerts at the St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater of the parking regulations in particular Accessible Parking Enforcement.   

During the first 3 concerts of the season the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office confiscated 70 handicapped plates/tags.    

There is a limited amount of accessible parking spaces and when you have 70 people fraudulently using parking permits this creates a situation where people who truly need these spaces are left to find parking elsewhere.   

It is a serious misuse of license plates and permits for people with disabilities?when someone other that the person with a disability uses the plates or permit to park in a space reserved for people with disabilities. These license plates or parking permits are valid only when the person with a disability who received the plates or permit is driving the vehicle or is a passenger in it. 

If you misuse plates or a parking permit or allow someone else to use them, the DMV may revoke the license plates or the locality that issued the permit may revoke the permit, or they may deny renewal. 

Any vehicle that has a license plate or valid permit displaying the Universal?Symbol of Access may use parking spaces designated for use by a person with a disability.?The person to whom the license plate or permit was issued must be traveling in the vehicle in order to use these spaces. 

Plates and permits do not allow you to disobey state or local parking regulations. They also do not exempt you from parking fees unless a locality has adopted an ordinance to that effect. , if you park illegally , permits will be confiscated and fines will be assessed for misuse/illegally parking in a space reserved for people with disabilities.” 

The fact that we found 70 violations in only the first 3 concerts goes to show that there is a problem.  We want to get the word out before Saturday’s concert and there will be no surprises when we are there conducting parking enforcement.  

 According to the Venue:  

“Management reserves the right to take appropriate action regarding misrepresentation of parking privileges which may include ticketing and towing cars at owner’s expense, reporting of misuse of handicapped plate/tag to New York State Department of Motor Vehicles for possible revocation of parking privileges and/or criminal charges.” 

A valid, appropriate disability placard or license plate is required to park in a space identified as reserved for persons with disabilities. The person that the registration of the accessible parking hangtag or license belongs to?must?be in the vehicle and identification is required. 

? Some tips for those attending Saturdays show: 

Guests should arrive as early as possible to ensure space availability and to reach their seats prior to showtime.  All parking is ‘first come, first served’. Typically, amphitheater gates open 90 minutes prior to the advertised event time; parking lots open three hours prior to the advertised event time. 

Guests who require being dropped off and/or picked up may do so in the Pink Lot where a pedestrian bridge is available to gain access to the amphitheater’s main gate (approx. 7-10 minute walk). For pickup, drivers must?arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the end of performances. 

For Shania Twain the parking lots will open at 4p.m., Gates to the venue open at 6:00 p.m. 

The Show starts at 7:30 p.m. and is expected to run until 10:30-11 p.m.. 

Accessible Shuttle – inside the venue: 

St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview operates shuttle vehicles to transport guests with disabilities or mobility impairments from the accessible parking areas near the main gate to pavilion seating areas. Shuttles begin at the advertised gate time for each show and end after the conclusion of the show when all those that need it are returned to their vehicles.