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Handicap spaces don't change when store's closed Monday Feb 26, 2018 at 12:01 AM I'm here in Oregon for business, and I'm using a rental car under my company. We are opening a brand new store! The store doesn't even open for another two weeks, so it's not open to the public — just employees and trainers. If I park in a handicapped spot and get a ticket, is it even charged, or could it be inadmissible?  Elsewhere in the country we've had no problem parking in those spots because we weren't open to the public yet. — Cheyenne, via email   If your question isn't a philosophy question for the modern world, what is? The state of Oregon, however, doesn't see the world in the same shades of gray, so you risk a $160 fine if you park in any space with a shade of blue. Though perhaps fodder for limited government proponents and "there outta be a law" banter, Oregon law doesn't exempt handicap spaces after-hours or when the business isn't open, so says Oregon Revised Statutes 811.615, all about "Unlawful parking in space reserved for persons with disabilities." The exception the law allows for folks without a handicap placard: "Momentarily parking a vehicle in a parking space marked or signed for persons with disabilities for the purposes of allowing a person with a disability to enter or leave the vehicle." Unlawful parking in a space reserved for persons with disabilities is a class C traffic violation for a first offense, and a class A traffic violation for subsequent offenses.  Class C violations carry a presumptive fine of $160 and Class A violations carry a presumptive fine of $435. The law allows other city or county ordinances to subject different provisions beyond the state law. You didn't indicate what city you're in, but we found nothing beyond state law about handicap parking in Medford's city code. Accessible parking spaces are part of Oregon building codes, regulated by the Department of Consumer and Business Services. One accessible space is required for every 25 spaces in smaller lots, and 2 percent of the total spaces at lots with more than 500 spaces. At least one out of every eight handicap spaces must be van-accessible, typically marked "Wheelchair User Only" and providing extra space for a disabled person to exit from the passenger side of the vehicle. — Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected]. We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them.