Disabled
Parking
A disabled parking permit, also known
as a handicapped permit, disabled placard, disabled
badge and "Blue Badge" in the European
Union, is displayed upon parking a vehicle carrying
a person whose mobility would be otherwise significantly
impaired by one or more of age, illness, disability
or infirmity. The permit allows exemption from street-parking
charges in some places and is used to park within
dedicated disabled parking spaces reserved for people
who have satisfied requirements to receive the placard.
In the United States, reserved spaces are mandated
by the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility
Guidelines.
Disabled parking permits generally take the form
of either specially marked license plates or a placard
that hangs from the rear-view mirror. Plates are
generally used for disabled drivers on their personal
vehicle, while the portable placard can be moved
from one vehicle to another with the disabled person,
both when driving or when being transported by another
driver.
The medical requirements to obtain a permit vary
by state, but usually are confined to specific types
of disabilities or conditions. These as a general
rule include the use of any assistive device such
as a wheelchair, crutches, or cane, as well as a
missing leg or foot. Many states also include certain
cardiovascular conditions, respiratory problems,
and conditions that cause pain while ambulating
or otherwise require the person to rest after walking
a very short distance. About half of US states (26)
include blindness as a disability that can obtain
a placard (for use as a passenger) and 14 states
include a missing or maimed hand. Four states include
deafness, and only two states (Virginia and New
York) include mental illness or developmental disabilities.
Most if not all states have blue permits for people
with lasting or permanent disabilities, and temporary
permits that are red or another color for short
term conditions such as broken legs or recovering
from surgery.
The availability of specially reserved parking spaces
is regulated by both federal and state laws. Generally
at least one space is available at any public parking
location, with more being required based on the
size of the parking lot and in some cases the type
of location, such as a health care facility. Parking
spaces reserved for the disabled are typically marked
with the International Symbol of Access, though
in practice, the design of the symbol varies widely.
Anyone parking in such reserved spaces must have
their plate or mirror placard displayed, or else
the car can be ticketed for illegal parking. In
some major US cities, local law also allows such
vehicles to park for free at city parking meters
and also exempts from time limits on time parked.
Fraudulent use of another person's permit is heavily
fined.
If traveling from other countries, requirements
to obtain a parking permit vary from state to state.
Some states will honour other country permits, while
others require application as a visitor/tourist.
(Source: Wikipedia.org)
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