Big Disability Parking Changes Kick in Jan. 1

The city of Joliet issued this news release:

Due to a new law enacted by the Illinois General Assembly, significant changes have been made to the Persons with Disabilities Parking Program, which affect both new applicants and current disability placard and license plate holders.

The new regulations will no longer allow most people with a disability parking placard or license plate to automatically qualify for meter-exempt parking in cities and municipalities. Enforcement of the new regulations will begin January 1, 2014.

The Secretary of State’s Office issues four types of parking placards:

Meter-Exempt Permanent Placards (YELLOW placard): Issued to persons with permanent disabilities who have significant impairments that cause difficulty in accessing a parking meter.

This placard also allows the authorized holder to park in spaces reserved for persons with disabilities such as a mall, grocery, or retail store, and exempts the authorized holder from parking meter fees and time limitations at parking meters that exceed a 30-minute time limit statewide.

To be eligible for this placard, the person with the disability must have a valid Illinois driver’s license and their physician must certify that they meet the criteria as outlined on the certification form. This placard DOES EXEMPT the authorized holder from parking meter fees.

Non Meter-Exempt Permanent Placards (BLUE placard): Issued to persons with permanent disabilities who still have the ability to access the parking meter and allows the authorized holder to park in spaces for persons with disabilities such as a mall, grocery, or retail store. This placard DOES NOT EXEMPT the authorized holder from parking meter fees and time limitations at parking meters.

Temporary Placards (RED placard): Issued to persons with a temporary disability and are valid for the length of time indicated by the certifying physician, not to exceed six months if issued by the Secretary of State, and 90 days if issued by a local municipality. This placard DOES NOT EXEMPT the authorized holder from parking meter fees and time limitations at parking meters.

Organization Placards (GREEN placard): Issued to organizations that transport persons with disabilities free of charge and expire on April 30, 2018.

Organizational placards allow the authorized holder to park In spaces reserved for persons with disabilities when transporting persons with disabilities. This placard DOES NOT EXEMPT the authorized holder from parking meter fees and time limitations at parking meters.

Disability License Plates: The difference between disability plates and a permanent placard is that the plates must stay permanently affixed to the vehicle for which they are issued. Disability license plates are only issued to: (1) a person with a permanent disability who owns a vehicle (title to the vehicle must be in the disabled person’s name), or (2) a vehicle owner who is the parent or legal guardian of a minor with disabilities, or (3) an immediate family member who owns a vehicle, resides in the same house as the person with disabilities and is responsible for transporting the person with disabilities.

Disability license plates allow the authorized holder to park in spaces reserved for persons with disabilities such as a mall, grocery, or retail store. These plates DO NOT EXEMPT the authorized holder from parking meter fees and
time limitations at parking meters.

Persons with Disability License Plate holders will also be issued either a meter-exempt or non-meter-exempt parking placard. When parking a vehicle displaying disability plates in a designated disability parking space the placard must also be properly displayed in the vehicle when parking in a metered space.
Any person with a Disabled Parking Placard displayed in their vehicle THAT IS NOT YELLOW (as described above), will be required to pay all parking meters and pay station fees beginning January 1, 2014, or be subject to fines.

For more information, please visit the following State of Illinois link: www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/vsd574.pdf.