SB 650

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, including

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

parking spaces). It is a violation for a person to park a motor vehicle that does not

display disabled plates or a disabled parking card in a disabled parking space.

Current law also requires 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, to reserve a minimum number of disabled parking spaces if the parking area

has at least 26 spaces. If the parking area is not open to the public or has fewer than

26 spaces, the owner or lessee may voluntarily reserve disabled parking spaces.

Various requirements apply to reserved disabled parking spaces, including that they

must be at least 12 feet wide, maintained in inclement weather, and posted with an

official traffic sign (disabled parking sign). Each sign must include the

"international symbol for barrier-free environments" (wheelchair symbol) and a

statement to inform the public that the parking space is reserved for vehicles used

by persons with physical disabilities. DOT must promulgate rules governing the

design, size, and installation of disabled parking signs.

Under this bill, if four or more disabled parking spaces are reserved under

current law, at least 25 percent of these parking spaces must have an access aisle

immediately adjacent to the parking space to provide entry to and exit from vehicles

by persons with physical disabilities. The access aisle must be at least 96 inches wide

and clearly marked. The disabled parking sign for a disabled parking space for which

an access aisle is required must identify the space as "lift van accessible only."

However, these requirements apply only to parking areas initially constructed,

reconstructed, resurfaced, or repainted after the effective date of the bill.

Current law also allows DOT and local authorities to post on highways or in

parking facilities under their respective jurisdictions disabled parking signs

prohibiting parking in disabled parking spaces.

Under this bill, the same access aisle requirements discussed above also apply

with respect to disabled parking spaces reserved in parking facilities by DOT or local

authorities.