Parking for Persons with Disabilities

Posted in Adult Protective Services Articles, Aging in Place Articles, Disability Services Articles, Education Opportunities Articles, Government Agencies Articles

Apr18

Source: SC Dept. of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) 

Parking in Spaces Designated for Persons with Disabilities

Persons with Disabilities

South Carolina issues parking permits to persons with disabilities or organizations that transport persons with disabilities. Use of designated accessible parking is permitted only for a person with a disability or a driver of a person with a disability that has a valid parking placard or license plate for persons with a disability. Qualified persons may apply at any SCDMV office or obtain a form for disabled parking placards or plates on our website.

Signs mark accessible parking areas and parking indicators may also appear on the pavement in these parking spaces. Only vehicles displaying license plates or placards for persons with disabilities may park in these designated spaces and they must be transporting a person with a disability. The name of the person with a disability must appear on the license plate registration certificate or placard certificate.

A striped “access aisle” provides a designated space next to an accessible parking area for maneuvering a wheelchair or other mobility device when entering or exiting a vehicle. Parking is not allowed at any time in the access aisles

Misuse of Parking Spaces Reserved for the Disabled

It is illegal to do any of the following:

  • Park, even for a few minutes, in a space marked for the use of persons with disabilities, if you do not display the required valid accessible parking permit.
  • Use an accessible parking permit when you are not entitled to the permit or use an invalid accessible parking permit. This includes using a permit that has been altered, photocopied, reproduced, mutilated, reported lost or stolen, or is not clearly readable.
  • Park on the diagonal stripes next to an accessible parking space, even if you hold an accessible parking permit. Persons with disabilities use this access aisle to enter and exit their vehicles.
  • Block an accessible parking space or access area next to a disabled parking space with a vehicle or an object.

A person violating the disabled parking law is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than $500 nor more than $1000 or imprisoned for not more than 30 days for each offense.

Placards and Plates for Persons with Disabilities

If you are a person with a disability, you should be aware of the requirements for placards and license plates for the disabled.

Disability Placards

Effective January 1, 2010, SCDMV began issuing disability placards that contain a photo of the individual to whom the placard was issued, along with certificates verifying their eligibility. You will have to re-certify your disability with your physician before you can obtain a photo-bearing placard. Only one photo-bearing placard will be issued per customer and the cost is $1.00.

Vehicles displaying a disability license plate or disability placard may park in designated spaces for persons with disabilities, but only if that vehicle is driven by or is transporting the individual with the disability whose name appears on the license plate registration certificate or placard certificate.

Vehicles displaying a disability license plate or disability placard are exempt from the payment of municipal parking meter fees (SC Code of Laws56-3-1965).

Individuals applying for a placard must complete Form RG-007A, Disabled Placard and License Plate Application. Businesses applying for a placard must complete Form RG-007B, Organization Disabled Placard and License Plate Application.

Disability Plates

Vehicle owners with disability license plates must also carry registration certificates that list the names of all eligible persons with a disability in their household that operate or may be transported in the vehicle.When customers renew their disability license plate, they will receive a license plate and registration certificate.

Businesses are not required to certify with a physician. Businesses with disability license plates must also carry registration certificates. Business certificates will not list names of persons with disabilities. The certificate will state that the vehicle is entitled to park in designated parking spaces. Vehicles displaying adisability license plate or placard may only park in designated spaces if that vehicle is driven by or is transporting the individual whose name appears on the license plate registration certificate or placard certificate.

To apply for a disability license plate for a privately owned vehicle, complete Form RG-007A, Disabled Placard and License Plate Application. To apply for a disability license plate for a business vehicle, complete Form RG-007B, Organization Disabled Placard and License Plate Application.