Shoppers rolled in and out of the Walmart and Target in Mount Dora, Florida, in droves last week, but the parking lots had extra eyes on them.

Officers from the local traffic unit watched drivers pull into accessible spots, step out, and reveal all the tells that something wasn’t adding up. The police work aimed at one of the most routine forms of parking abuse.

In a Facebook post, MDPD reported that officers spent 48 hours running a targeted enforcement detail at those two Florida retail lots. They worked from the straightforward rule that accessible spaces exist for people who need them, not for drivers just looking for a closer spot.

Drivers who try to skirt the process often rely on predictable tactics

Some keep an old placard in the glovebox, hoping no one checks the expiration date. Others borrow one from a relative who rarely drives. A few scour online marketplaces for discarded or counterfeit tags.

None of these strategies work for long, especially during focused enforcement.

Over the course of the operation, officers stopped more than 80 Florida drivers

They also collected over 30 handicap placards that drivers used illegally.

Often, these placards belong to family members who aren’t present. Some name people who have actually passed away. Other drivers simply borrow one to shorten their walk.

Officers said the goal was to protect mobility and safety for the residents who depend on those spaces.

Florida treats handicap placard misuse as a serious traffic violation

State law allows fines that often exceed $200. Repeat offenders face escalating penalties. In some cases, police can confiscate the placard on the spot, which leaves a clear paper trail for the issuing agency.

Mount Dora police said they plan to continue operations like this to keep accessible parking available for the Floridians who actually qualify for it. It might seem like a small detail, but it matters to the people who need those few extra feet to safely get into a store. And anyway, if you’re able to walk, it’s good for you.