Unlawful Use Of A Disability Placard - San Diego

A disability placard or disabled person placard (DP placard) is a large blue tag that a disabled person should hang on the rear-view mirror of his or her vehicle. It is also referred to as a handicapped parking placard and contains a wheelchair symbol, known as the International Symbol of Access.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles is responsible for issuing DP placards, which comes in different varieties. Here is a closer look at the different types of placards that are available in California.

Permanent Parking Placard

Permanent parking placards are available to permanently disabled people. The placard is valid for two years and expires on 30th June in every oddly-numbered year. There are no fees that apply when applying for a permanent DP placard. Once a person gets it, there is no need for medical re-certification to have the placard renewed. The DMV will automatically mail the user a new one to his or her address.

Temporary Parking Placards

People with temporary disabilities are issued with temporary placards. The temporary placards are valid for six months. There is a nominal fee currently at $6 that applies during the application. The card is also renewable for six consecutive times.

Travel Parking Placards for California Residents

Californians with permanent disability placards or plates can obtain a no-cost travel parking placard, which lasts for thirty days after its issuance. This kind of placard is suitable for someone traveling within California with someone else’s vehicle or when renting a car.

Travel Parking Placards for Non-residents

People who do not reside in California can get a permanent disability placard to use within California without any charges. The placards are suitable until ninety days after the issuance and the date that the certifying medical professional has noted during the application.

California Handicap Placard Rules

Some specific rules and regulations apply while using California handicapped placards. These rules are considered in the application and their use. Let’s have a closer look at these requirements.

Application and Requirements

You can apply for the placards in person or by mail. Despite the process that you choose, you have to bring your proof of disability to be eligible for the issuance. The application must be filled out with notoriety from a physician, practitioner, chiropractor, or a surgeon if you have lower extremities. For visual impairment, you should seek notoriety from an optometrist. You might need to change your driver’s license based on the nature of your disability and how it affects your driving skills.

According to the California DMV, people with lung diseases, heart diseases, visual impairment, or any form of physical impairment.

Disability Placard Use in California

After you have received the DMV-issued handicapped placard, you are entitled to the following parking spaces:

• A parking space with the International Symbol of Access or the wheelchair symbol
• Next to a blue curb, which is designated for people with disabilities
• Next to a green curb, which indicates a limited time parking. (There is no time limitation for people with disabilities)
• In an on-street metered parking space (No charges for people with disabilities)
• Areas where merchant or resident permits are required

Despite the privileges that people with disabilities have to enjoy, there are some places that they cannot park. These places include:

• Crosshatched marked spaces next to wheelchair-accessible parks. These spaces are for wheelchair and lift access only
• Next to a red curb, which is off-limit for stopping and parking
• Next to a yellow curb, which are for commercial vehicles to load or unload people or freight
• Next to a white curb, which is used for loading or unloading depositing mail and passengers

People with disability placards can access service refuels at self-service-rates unless the facility has one employee on duty.

How Handicapped Persons Placards are Misused

The disabled person Placards are only supposed to be used by the people assigned to them. However, some restricted actions might attract fines if you violate them. These violations are as follows:

• Letting a family or friend borrow and sue the placard
• Forging medical professional signature to acquire the placards
• Using someone else’s placard
• Using or displaying counterfeit placards
• Providing false information to obtain the placard
• Altering your placard in any way

If you violate the above-stated restrictions, you can have your placard canceled and revoked by the California DMV. This will prompt punishment.

Misuse of Disabled Person Placards in California

California Vehicle Code 4461 prohibits the misuse of disabled person placards in California. Under Vehicle Code 4461, there are three distinct types of fraud that makes one eligible for punishment under the statute. These frauds include:

• Allowing someone else to use your disabled placard
• Using someone else’s placard
• Wrongfully parking in an accessible parking space

Here is a closer look at the above-stated frauds.