SB 646

Under current law, a person with a disability that limits or impairs the ability

to walk may apply for and obtain from the Department of Transportation (DOT)

special motor vehicle registration plates (disabled plates) or a special identification

card (disabled parking card) that affords certain parking privileges. If a motor

vehicle displays disabled plates or a disabled parking card, the motor vehicle may be

parked in spaces reserved for use by persons with physical disabilities (disabled

parking spaces) if: 1) the motor vehicle is parked by or under the direction of the

person issued the card or plates and this person is present; or 2) the motor vehicle

is operated by or on behalf of an organization and is used to transport a person

eligible for a disabled parking card. If a motor vehicle does not display disabled

plates or a disabled parking card, it is a violation for a person to park the motor

vehicle in a disabled parking space. It is also a violation to park a motor vehicle in

a manner that blocks use of a disabled parking space or in a marked access aisle

adjacent to a disabled parking space. A person who commits a disabled parking

space violation must forfeit not less than $50 nor more than $300 for the violation.

This bill increases the minimum penalty for a disabled parking space violation,

from a range of $50 to $300 for a violation to a range of $150 to $300 for a violation.

Also under current law, the owner or lessee of a public building or place of

employment, and the owner or lessee of a parking facility that offers parking to the

public, must reserve a minimum number of disabled parking spaces if the parking

area has at least 26 spaces. For all reserved disabled parking spaces, the owner or

lessee must post official traffic signs (disabled parking signs). In addition, DOT and

local authorities may restrict parking in disabled parking spaces reserved on

highways and in other parking facilities by posting disabled parking signs.

This bill specifies that a person who violates restrictions imposed by DOT or

local authorities on parking in disabled parking spaces on highways and in other

parking facilities must forfeit not less than $150 nor more than $300.