APPENDIX B: Jurisdictional Summaries

State of Virginia Source: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop12026/fhwahop12026.pdf

In the late 1990s, Arlington County in Virginia witnessed a low availability of parking space due to the high level of parking placard abuse and fraud. The Arlington Disabled Commission suggested to Arlington County to eliminate free metered parking. Local officials gathered community support and proceeded to engage state officials to review state disabled parking ordinances because the “Virginia State law limited local jurisdictions’ power in managing disabled parking.” This brought about the “All May Park, All Must Pay” law in all Virginia municipalities in 1998. However, the state offered double the amount of time on meters for disabled drivers with a placard, effectively providing a 50% cost subsidy for accessible parking in metered zones.

State of Washington Source: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop12026/fhwahop12026.pdf

In 2012, the Washington District Department of Transportation (DDOT) developed a disabled parking pilot program which provided a total of 400 parking meters, the domes of which are painted red to be visibly different from regular meters to specifically be available for disabled drivers. They also provided two spaces per street block for better access for disabled drivers in commercial zones.

The previous policy allowed disabled drivers to park on metered parking spaces at no cost. Under this new program, a disabled driver with an official placard pays to park on the reddomed meter but receives double the amount of parking time. This is another instance of providing a subsidy in the form of time received for the same cost.

State of Michigan Souce: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop12026/fhwahop12026.pdf

The State of Michigan enacted a new law that sees only individuals with severe disabilities (in a wheelchair or unable to operate street meters) qualify for free metered parking (3). This represents a complete waiver or subsidy on parking charges for only drivers with a severe disability. Other drivers with disabilities can park in handicapped spaces in off- street facilities at no charge, or are required to pay regular metered rates.

Prior to the enactment of the law, about 500,000 individuals with disabled parking placards were parking for free. However, after the law was enforced, only 2% (10,000) of those with disabled parking placards were allowed to park for free at metered parking. Under the new law, individuals with severe disabilities require a doctor’s certification to apply for a differentiated yellow placard, which distinguishes their vehicles from the traditional blue placard holders.

City of New York Source: https://dmv.ny.gov/forms/mv6642mp.pdf

Section 1203-h of New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law provides a metered parking waiver to drivers with a “severe disability that makes it extremely difficult to put a payment into a parking meter.” The parking waiver exempts the holder from paying the normal parking fee even if they park in a metered parking space that is necessarily reserved for those with disabilities. This effectively means a total subsidy on parking charges for only drivers with a severe disability. However, the conditions to activate the waiver include the following:

The placard holder must be the driver of the vehicle.

The placard holder must not be accompanied by a person capable of putting a payment into a meter.

The placard holder must observe the time limit of the parking space.

When parking at a metered parking space, the parking placard and the metered parking waiver must be displayed on the vehicle.

City of Portland (State of Oregon) Source: https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2013/12/disabled_pass_wont_equal_free.html

In 2008, a change in state law “began distinguishing between Oregonians who use wheelchairs and those with other kinds of disabilities.” The new law mandates Portland and other jurisdictions offer free parking benefits to disabled drivers in a wheelchair, but does not require the same provision for all other disabled individuals.

In Portland, free parking benefits were previously offered to all disabled drivers, However, in 2013, a “tally of use downtown and near the Rose Quarter by the city found that vehicles with placards occupied 1,033 of 8,753 parking spaces — or nearly 12 percent. Of those, people with wheelchairs parked in just 21 spaces.” As a result, City Council amended parking rules for placard holders to allow only disabled persons in wheelchairs to park for free. City officials also provided “30 wheel- chair only, right-side parking spaces at strategic locations” in the city. They also planned to provide up to 50 additional disabled parking spaces for other disabled drivers to improve accessibility to key locales, but at meter rates.

United Kingdom & European Union Source: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/rights-and-responsibilities-blue-badge-holders

Placard holders may park free of charge at all on-street pay and display areas. If an area has a local traffic order that specifies a time limit, placard holders must also abide by that time limit for parking in a particular zone.

Placard holders also have access to disabled parking bays in Council owned off-street car parks, however payment is required. Placard holders are also responsible to ensure that they are parked wholly within the markings of the parking spot or they may be issued a penalty notice.

California Source: https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffvr07

Drivers with a valid DP placard or Plate, or a DV plate may park at no charge in various parking zones with relaxed rules to those of regular drivers. This includes parking spaces marked with the International Symbol of Access (wheelchair symbol), blue curb zones (indicating parking authorized for persons with disability), green curb zones (indicating time limited parking) with no limit on time allowed, in on-street metered zones, and in areas that require resident or merchant permits.

Victoria, BC Source: https://www.victoria.ca/EN/main/residents/parking/disabled.html

The City of Victoria issues monthly parking permits that are available to persons with disabilities who work or attend school in the downtown core. The permits are issued for a rate of $60 per month. These permits allow for unlimited parking at any on-street metered spaces, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. There are a couple of exceptions, 20-minute meters and 28 specifically designated meters for placard holders are excluded from the permit.

A periodic all-day permit can also be purchased for a cost of $4 per day. The same restrictions apply for 20-minute and disability designated meters.

Charlottetown, PEI The Designated Parking Permit Program is offered by the Council of People with Disabilities. A designated parking permit allows eligible permit holders to park in specially designated parking spots. These parking permits are for those unable to walk more than 75 meters without serious difficulty or danger to safety or health. To apply for a permit, you must have the written approval of your doctor and fill out an application form. The parking permit costs $15. It is valid for one calendar year. Temporary permits are also available.

Montreal, QC In Québec, a permit allows access to parking space reserved for disabled persons who have limited walking ability or cannot move about independently without risk to their health or safety. The permit allows a disabled person, whether a vehicle driver or passenger, to use a handicapped parking space. You can park at standard meters, however you pay the same as a non-handicap user.

Winnipeg, MB Permit holders with a disability may use spaces designated with the international access symbol, OR any other meter stall as available. Parking is offered on a “pay as you go” daily or hourly basis provided they display their permit. Allows motorists displaying handicap permits to park for 4 hours in on-street spaces restricted to 1 or 2 hours. Allows motorists displaying handicap permits to park for 4 hours at 2 hour on-street pay stations. If a vehicle with a placard parks at a 2 hour paystation and pays with coins or credit card for 2 hours of parking, they may park for up to 4 hours at no additional cost, and without penalty.

Payment for the full period of parking is required if:

parking at a 4 hour paystation,

parking near Health Science Center or St. Boniface Hospital

parking at a 2 hour pay station and using payment methods other than coins or a credit card

parking in a Surface Lot

Vancouver, BC In Vancouver, holders of a valid SPARC permit (available for an annual cost of $20) may:

Park in Resident Permit Parking and Resident Parking Only 3 Hour zones without a residential parking permit

Regular loading zones for 30 minutes while actively loading or unloading people or materials

Passenger zones 30 minutes while actively loading or unloading people or materials.

No Parking zones 30 minutes while actively loading or unloading people or materials.

Toronto, ON A valid permit holder in the City of Toronto may park in signed prohibited parking areas incluidng time restricted zones and rush hour restricted zones. They may also park in signed permit required areas without a designated on-street parking permit. Holders are also allowed to exceed posted time limits and may park at on-street meters without paying during hours in which parking would regularly be charged.

The exemption does not apply to off-street parking meters, privately managed lots or private property, or Green P parking lots.

Ottawa, ON Disability parking permits are available for a cost of $23. With a valid permit, time limits in any zone are extended to 4 hours, regardless of the posted time limit. Parking at meters is free, and additionally, permitted vehicles may park in no parking zones for up to 4 hours. Permit holders may be picked up and dropped off in “no stopping” and “loading” zones, as well as in reserved bus lanes and reserved bicycle lanes as long as it doesn’t create traffic issues. Drivers are NOT permitted to wait for permit holders to return after they are let off in these locations.

These parking privileges do not apply to off-street parking facilities such as those at Federal Government buildings and Private Institutions (i.e. Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport, hospitals, etc.).

Regina, SK A disability parking permit can be obtained for $75/year or $6.25/month. The permit allows the holder you to park up to 3 hours at any 1 or 2 hour parking meter without depositing any coins. However, you can only park for 15 minutes in a red capped 15 minute parking meter.