In California, anyone with a qualifying impairment receives preferential parking. To indicate that a person qualifies, they are given disabled person placards, plates, or badges to display in their vehicles. Previously, the signs were referred to as "handicapped parking placards," however this is no longer the case.
There are restrictions and regulations in place to guarantee that only people with real disabilities benefit from the handicapped parking scheme, as well as that other drivers adhere to the laws.
Access to Disabled Placards in California
If a person's mobility is hampered by a disability, they are eligible for a disabled person placard, a disabled plate, or a disabled travel badge. The medical expert who analyzes a person has the last say in identifying disability in California, but there are specific situations that qualify:
One or more lower extremities are paralyzed.
Both hands are paralyzed.
Visual issues that have been documented.
Inability to move without the assistance of a gadget.
A diagnosed condition that significantly limits or prevents mobility.
Heart problems, autoimmune disorders like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, severe arthritis, and a severe respiratory ailment, including any condition that necessitates the use of a portable oxygen tank, are all eligible. Chronic inflammatory disorders, eyesight or hearing problems, acute sunlight sensitivity, possessing a prosthetic limb, or any ailment requiring the use of a wheelchair, crutches, or a Zimmer frame are all eligible.
The Disabled Person Badge Program in California
The state's disabled person badge program is managed by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). A permanent disabled person license plate or DMV placard can be obtained and displayed in the rear-view mirror of a vehicle in California. When someone other than the disabled person is driving the car, the latter is appropriate.
People who are temporarily disabled due to an injury or operation, as well as pregnant women, can obtain temporary placards to use for a limited time. The temporary placard is valid for six months at first, but it can be renewed six times with a fresh doctor's certificate.
