An abuse of power?
State Senator John Lamping was caught parking his car -- with official Senate license plates -- in a handicapped spot in Jefferson City last week. A tipster who snapped the photo sent it to Fired Up! Missouri, which tweeted it out, saying, "Do @JohnLamping's official tags give him special handicap parking spot privileges?"
"It looked like to me the state senator felt that he was above the law," the photographer, a Jefferson City source who wished to remain anonymous, tells Daily RFT.
Asked for comment, Lamping said he didn't initially realize he had used a handicapped space when he parked there after a late night at the Missouri State Capitol, and he is sorry for his mistake.
Here's the full photo and tweet via Fired Up! (which was also sent to Daily RFT by a concerned reader).
Do @johnlamping's official tags give him special handicap parking spot privileges? #moleg #abovethelaw twitter.com/FiredUpMissour...
— Fired Up! Missouri (@FiredUpMissouri) April 4, 2013
The individual snapped the photo outside of a hotel and says he knew right away the vehicle belonged to Lamping, a Republican lawmaker who represents parts of St. Louis County.
His plates have "S-24" printed on them, referring to Lamping's district.
Asked about the photo yesterday, Lamping's office sends us this statement, directly from the state senator:
I sincerely apologize. The Senate worked late into the night last Wednesday. I did not arrive to my hotel until after midnight and unfortunately did not realize the spot was reserved for handicapped parking. I recognized the mistake when I left early Thursday morning. I never would have intentionally parked in a space designated for the same. I apologize to anyone I inconvenienced.
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