Florida Disabled Parking Permit Law
Florida law allows for the issuing of disabled parking permits to give handicapped people easier parking access to businesses, churches, parks and other sites. Florida has both temporary and permanent disabled parking permits, with temporary passes being given for up to six months for a condition that will get better in the near future; e.g., rehabilitation after surgery. Owners of disabled parking permits also are allowed four hours of free parking in metered spaces.
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Eligibility
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Florida Statutes Section 320.0840 lays out the qualifications to get a disabled parking permit in Florida. You must meet one of the following to be eligible: legally blind; needing assistance from a device such as a crutch or another person to walk; being permanently in need of a wheelchair; using portable oxygen; or being hindered in your ability to walk because of "an arthritic, neurological or orthopedic condition."
Permit Application Requirements
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To apply for a disabled parking permit in Florida, you need Form HSMV8309 and a copy of your driver's license or other legally recognized identification. You also will have to pay a $15 fee if you're getting a temporary permit. Form HSMV8390 requires a certification from a licensed doctor explaining the disability that makes you eligible for a handicapped parking permit.
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Use and Renewal
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Permanent disabled parking permits are good for four years, and expire on your birthday. You will receive a renewal form in the mail shortly before your expiration date. You must hang the permit on your rearview mirror after parking your car, but do not hang it while driving. Permits are issued to a person rather than a vehicle, and may be used only when the person whose name is on the permit is riding in the vehicle.
Penalties
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Using a disabled parking permit when the person authorized to use it is not in the car is a second-degree misdemeanor in Florida, and you can face penalties of up to six months in jail or a fine of up to $1,000. People parking in handicapped spaces without permits face $250 fines.
Disabled Parking Spots
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Parking spots designated for disabled patrons must be 12 ft. wide and have a buffer of 5 ft. from the next spot, known as the "access aisle." The spot must have a blue sign designating the space as for disabled people, and Florida law also requires that a certain percentage of spots be reserved for handicapped people, depending on the size of the parking lot.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit disabled sign image by Warren Millar from Fotolia.com
