02-25-2006, 11:00 PM
Parking crusader issues tickets, makes enemies in college town
Maryann Cottrell bounds out of her car door, tiny camera in hand, to snap photos of two vehicles parked in the handicapped spaces at a used car dealership.
She's gleeful to add to her tally of nearly 300 motorists she's reported for parking in handicapped spaces without proper permits. She's nabbed two Philadelphia Eagles players, mail trucks and so many college students that Rowan University has barred her from campus.
Cottrell, 53, is an activist, not a police officer. Under New Jersey law, she's allowed to report handicapped parking violators, and police and prosecutors are required to take them to court.
She's sensitive to the handicapped parking issue because her 20-year-old daughter has autism and a variety of physical ailments. Cottrell says she uses a handicapped parking permit only when her daughter rides with her.
"Why is it necessary that you can't take a few extra steps?" she asks about people who park illegally in handicapped spaces, which are typically closest to a building's entrance.
But Cottrell's efforts to enforce the law have earned her more scorn than thanks.
The staff at Landmark Americana restaurant have been instructed to call police if they see Cottrell in the parking lot. General manager Dave Goldman said he, too, abhors when healthy people park in handicapped spots. But he does not approve of Cottrell's methods.
"She doesn't really understand the spirit of the law," he said.
For example, Goldman said it was inappropriate when she cited a man for parking in a handicapped spot while he was waiting to pick up his wife and son on a rainy day.
The restaurant is the site of Cottrell's highest-profile busts. Last fall, she cited trucks belonging to Philadelphia Eagles' players Jeremiah Trotter and Donovan McNabb. Both are contesting the tickets.
Police in Glassboro have known Cottrell for years. She's a one-time borough council candidate who makes it a point to call when something she thinks is wrong _ like adults drinking alcohol near school-bus stops.
Last August, Cottrell noticed that one downtown businessman kept parking in a handicapped spot behind his building, but didn't appear to be disabled or have a permit.
When she asked police to cite the man, an officer mentioned to her that she could do it herself.
And quickly, making parking busts became part of her life.
When Cottrell runs her daily errands, she takes her camera and shoots photos of vehicles parked in handicapped spots without permits. She gathers additional information and takes it to the police, who according to New Jersey law, must let her sign complaints.
She said she cites drivers of armored trucks, delivery trucks and many college students. Some of the worst offenders, she said, are people who drive expensive cars.
She's so prolific that the municipal court held a special session in January just for cases brought by Cottrell _ and has three more scheduled, from this week through April 5. The penalty for first-time violators is a $250 fine.
Cottrell said she's won convictions in 50 cases so far, including guilty pleas.
Emmett Dwyer, director of litigation for New Jersey Protection and Advocacy Inc., which helps people with disabilities, said while he doesn't know Cottrell, he appreciates people who enforce handicapped parking rules.
"We owe them our gratitude," Dwyer said. "Discrimination against people with disabilities is still rampant in our society. There just aren't enough law enforcement officials out there to pick up on everything."
Glassboro municipal prosecutor Timothy Chell said Cottrell has lost the majority of the contested cases that have gone before a judge, perhaps because her evidence is not strong enough.
"Police officers are trained law enforcement personnel," Chell said. "They know when to use discretion. Most of the cases that Miss Cottrell is losing in municipal court are because she is not trained as a law enforcement person."
Still, Chell said he is bound by law to prosecute cases Cottrell brings him.
Both the local school board and Rowan have told Cottrell she isn't welcome on their property because her activism amounts to harassment. Undeterred by the ban, Cottrell photographed suspected parking violators at Rowan from the public road last week.
University spokesman Joe Cardona said the ban is partly for their own safety. On Jan. 16, Cardona said, angry students surrounded Cottrell's car and she backed into one of them. She denies hitting any student and says that it was the students who were acting improperly.
"What people have an issue with is in certain instances, there have been confrontations," Cardona said. "We're fearful she's going to run into a situation where that's going to get out of control."
But to Cottrell, what's out of control are the people who park where they shouldn't _ people whom officials won't charge on their own.
"Something has to be done," she said. "Unfortunately, I've been sacrificed to the cause."
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If she was diagnosed she might see thats she's taking her obsession a bit too far. :?
Maryann Cottrell bounds out of her car door, tiny camera in hand, to snap photos of two vehicles parked in the handicapped spaces at a used car dealership.
She's gleeful to add to her tally of nearly 300 motorists she's reported for parking in handicapped spaces without proper permits. She's nabbed two Philadelphia Eagles players, mail trucks and so many college students that Rowan University has barred her from campus.
Cottrell, 53, is an activist, not a police officer. Under New Jersey law, she's allowed to report handicapped parking violators, and police and prosecutors are required to take them to court.
She's sensitive to the handicapped parking issue because her 20-year-old daughter has autism and a variety of physical ailments. Cottrell says she uses a handicapped parking permit only when her daughter rides with her.
"Why is it necessary that you can't take a few extra steps?" she asks about people who park illegally in handicapped spaces, which are typically closest to a building's entrance.
But Cottrell's efforts to enforce the law have earned her more scorn than thanks.
The staff at Landmark Americana restaurant have been instructed to call police if they see Cottrell in the parking lot. General manager Dave Goldman said he, too, abhors when healthy people park in handicapped spots. But he does not approve of Cottrell's methods.
"She doesn't really understand the spirit of the law," he said.
For example, Goldman said it was inappropriate when she cited a man for parking in a handicapped spot while he was waiting to pick up his wife and son on a rainy day.
The restaurant is the site of Cottrell's highest-profile busts. Last fall, she cited trucks belonging to Philadelphia Eagles' players Jeremiah Trotter and Donovan McNabb. Both are contesting the tickets.
Police in Glassboro have known Cottrell for years. She's a one-time borough council candidate who makes it a point to call when something she thinks is wrong _ like adults drinking alcohol near school-bus stops.
Last August, Cottrell noticed that one downtown businessman kept parking in a handicapped spot behind his building, but didn't appear to be disabled or have a permit.
When she asked police to cite the man, an officer mentioned to her that she could do it herself.
And quickly, making parking busts became part of her life.
When Cottrell runs her daily errands, she takes her camera and shoots photos of vehicles parked in handicapped spots without permits. She gathers additional information and takes it to the police, who according to New Jersey law, must let her sign complaints.
She said she cites drivers of armored trucks, delivery trucks and many college students. Some of the worst offenders, she said, are people who drive expensive cars.
She's so prolific that the municipal court held a special session in January just for cases brought by Cottrell _ and has three more scheduled, from this week through April 5. The penalty for first-time violators is a $250 fine.
Cottrell said she's won convictions in 50 cases so far, including guilty pleas.
Emmett Dwyer, director of litigation for New Jersey Protection and Advocacy Inc., which helps people with disabilities, said while he doesn't know Cottrell, he appreciates people who enforce handicapped parking rules.
"We owe them our gratitude," Dwyer said. "Discrimination against people with disabilities is still rampant in our society. There just aren't enough law enforcement officials out there to pick up on everything."
Glassboro municipal prosecutor Timothy Chell said Cottrell has lost the majority of the contested cases that have gone before a judge, perhaps because her evidence is not strong enough.
"Police officers are trained law enforcement personnel," Chell said. "They know when to use discretion. Most of the cases that Miss Cottrell is losing in municipal court are because she is not trained as a law enforcement person."
Still, Chell said he is bound by law to prosecute cases Cottrell brings him.
Both the local school board and Rowan have told Cottrell she isn't welcome on their property because her activism amounts to harassment. Undeterred by the ban, Cottrell photographed suspected parking violators at Rowan from the public road last week.
University spokesman Joe Cardona said the ban is partly for their own safety. On Jan. 16, Cardona said, angry students surrounded Cottrell's car and she backed into one of them. She denies hitting any student and says that it was the students who were acting improperly.
"What people have an issue with is in certain instances, there have been confrontations," Cardona said. "We're fearful she's going to run into a situation where that's going to get out of control."
But to Cottrell, what's out of control are the people who park where they shouldn't _ people whom officials won't charge on their own.
"Something has to be done," she said. "Unfortunately, I've been sacrificed to the cause."
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If she was diagnosed she might see thats she's taking her obsession a bit too far. :?