The Lowcountry's new "Watchdog"

People across the Lowcountry are using those familiar blue handicap placards like free parking passes, making it difficult for the truly disabled to find spaces, an investigation by The Post and Courier's new on-line Watchdog team showed.

Beginning Monday, Watchdog will be Charleston.net's on-line center for investigative reporting, a place where people can report waste, wrongdoing and injustice — and do their own digging.

Coordinated by public service editor Doug Pardue, Watchdog (www.charleston.net/watchdog) will have frequent on-line investigative reports on key issues affecting the community.

"Our first report is called 'Parking Cheaters' and shows how some perfectly healthy people are using handicap placards to park for free all over town," Pardue said. "We'll also show how the state's lax record system makes it easy for these cheaters to get away with it."

In addition to special on-line reports, Watchdog will have "D.I.Y.", a do-it-yourself, one-stop place for people to investigate on their own. At D.I.Y., readers will be able to find:

— How a restaurant and school cafeteria scored in its last health department inspection.

— How much money state employees make.

— Campaign contributions to elected officials.

Pardue and Watchdog reporters Tony Bartelme and Ron Menchaca, along with the newspaper's team of experienced reporters, also will investigate tips from readers through "Blow the Whistle," a way for readers to report wrongdoing and submit photos and documents.