Senate Bill 1498er

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    1998 Legislature                 CS for SB 1498, 3rd Engrossed



  1

  2         An act relating to the use of motor vehicles by

  3         persons who have disabilities; amending s.

  4         316.1955, F.S.; clarifying standards for

  5         accessible parking spaces and parking access

  6         aisles; providing violations; providing

  7         penalties; amending s. 316.1958, F.S.;

  8         providing that a special motor vehicle license

  9         plate or parking permit issued by another

10         state, district, or country is invalid with

11         respect to a person who must have a Florida

12         vehicle registration; amending s. 316.1964,

13         F.S.; amending circumstances in which vehicles

14         are exempt from paying parking fees and

15         penalties; amending s. 318.18, F.S.; increasing

16         the amount of the fine for illegally parking in

17         a parking space for disabled persons; amending

18         procedures for dismissing such fines and for

19         distributing the proceeds of such fines;

20         amending s. 320.0842, F.S.; amending

21         prerequisites to qualifying for a free license

22         plate as a veteran who uses a wheelchair due to

23         a service-connected disability; amending s.

24         320.0843, F.S.; amending provisions related to

25         license plates for wheelchair users; amending

26         s. 320.0848, F.S.; amending provisions relating

27         to the issuance of disabled parking permits;

28         amending prerequisites; providing for

29         replacement permits; providing for

30         alternatives; amending requirements for the

31         design of temporary permits; providing


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    1998 Legislature                 CS for SB 1498, 3rd Engrossed



  1         penalties for unlawfully displaying a disabled

  2         parking permit; providing additional grounds

  3         for confiscation of a disabled parking permit;

  4         providing for recordkeeping related to

  5         confiscation; providing for revoking the

  6         privilege of applying for a disabled parking

  7         permit; providing procedures related to

  8         confiscations and revocations; providing an

  9         effective date.

10

11  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

12

13         Section 1.  Subsections (4), (5), (6), and (7) of

14  section 316.1955, Florida Statutes, are amended, present

15  subsections (8) and (9) of that section are renumbered as

16  subsections (9) and (10), respectively, and a new subsection

17  (8) is added to that section, to read:

18         316.1955  Parking spaces for persons who have

19  disabilities.--

20         (4)  The number of accessible parking spaces must

21  comply with the parking requirements in ADAAG s. 4.1 and the

22  following:

23         (a)  There must be one accessible parking space in the

24  immediate vicinity of a publicly owned or leased building that

25  houses a governmental entity or a political subdivision,

26  including, but not limited to, state office buildings and

27  courthouses, if no parking for the public is provided on the

28  premises of the building.;

29         (b)  There must be one accessible parking space for

30  each 150 metered onstreet parking spaces provided by state

31  agencies and political subdivisions.;


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    1998 Legislature                 CS for SB 1498, 3rd Engrossed



  1         (c)  The number of parking spaces for persons who have

  2  disabilities must be increased on the basis of demonstrated

  3  and documented need.

  4         (5)  Accessible perpendicular and diagonal accessible

  5  parking spaces and loading zones must be designed and located

  6  in conformance with the guidelines set forth in ADAAG ss.

  7  4.1.2 and 4.6 and Appendix s. A4.6.3 "Universal Parking

  8  Design."

  9         (a)  All spaces must be located on an accessible route

10  no less than 44 inches wide so that users will not be

11  compelled to walk or wheel behind parked vehicles.

12         (b)  Each space must be located on the shortest safely

13  accessible route from the parking space to an accessible

14  entrance. If there are multiple entrances or multiple retail

15  stores, the parking spaces must be dispersed to provide

16  parking at the nearest accessible entrance.  If a theme park

17  or an entertainment complex as defined in s. 509.013(9)

18  provides parking in several lots or areas from which access to

19  the theme park or entertainment complex is provided, a single

20  lot or area may be designated for parking by persons who have

21  disabilities, if the lot or area is located on the shortest

22  safely accessible route to an accessible entrance to the theme

23  park or entertainment complex or to transportation to such an

24  accessible entrance.

25         (c)1.  Each parking space must be no less than 12 feet

26  wide.  Parking access aisles must be no less than 5 feet wide

27  and must be part of an accessible route to the building or

28  facility entrance. In accordance with ADAAG 4.6.3, access

29  aisles must be placed adjacent to accessible parking spaces;

30  however, The parking access aisles are reserved for the use of

31  persons who have disabled parking permits, and violators are


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    1998 Legislature                 CS for SB 1498, 3rd Engrossed



  1  subject to the same penalties that are imposed for illegally

  2  parking in parking spaces that are designated for persons who

  3  have disabilities. two accessible parking spaces may share a

  4  common access aisle. The access aisle must be striped

  5  diagonally to designate it as a no-parking zone.

  6         2.  The parking access aisles are reserved for the

  7  temporary exclusive use of persons who have disabled parking

  8  permits and who require extra space to deploy a mobility

  9  device, lift, or ramp in order to exit from or enter a

10  vehicle. Parking is not allowed in an access aisle. Violators

11  are subject to the same penalties that are imposed for

12  illegally parking in parking spaces that are designated for

13  persons who have disabilities. A vehicle may not be parked in

14  an access aisle, even if the vehicle owner or passenger is

15  disabled or owns a disabled parking permit.

16         3.  Any provision of this subsection to the contrary

17  notwithstanding, a theme park or an entertainment complex as

18  defined in s. 509.013(9) in which are provided continuous

19  attendant services for directing individuals to marked

20  accessible parking spaces or designated lots for parking by

21  persons who have disabilities, may, in lieu of the required

22  parking space design, provide parking spaces that comply with

23  ss. 4.1 and 4.6 of the Americans with Disabilities Act

24  Accessibility Guidelines.

25         (d)  On-street parallel parking spaces must be located

26  either at the beginning or end of a block or adjacent to alley

27  entrances. Such spaces must be designed in conformance with

28  the guidelines set forth in ADAAG ss. 4.6.2 through 4.6.5.

29  exception:  access aisles are not required. Curbs adjacent to

30  such spaces must be of a height that will not interfere with

31  the opening and closing of motor vehicle doors. This


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    1998 Legislature                 CS for SB 1498, 3rd Engrossed



  1  subsection does not relieve the owner of the responsibility to

  2  comply with the parking requirements of ADAAG ss. 4.1 and 4.6.

  3         (e)  Parallel parking spaces must be even with surface

  4  slopes, may match the grade of the adjacent travel lane, and

  5  must not exceed a cross slope of 1 to 50, where feasible.

  6         (f)  Curb ramps must be located outside of the disabled

  7  parking spaces and access aisles.

  8         (g)1.  The removal of architectural barriers from a

  9  parking facility in accordance with 28 C.F.R. s. 36.304 or

10  with s. 553.508 must comply with this section unless

11  compliance would cause the barrier removal not to be readily

12  achievable.  If compliance would cause the barrier removal not

13  to be readily achievable, a facility may provide parking

14  spaces at alternative locations for persons who have

15  disabilities and provide appropriate signage directing persons

16  who have disabilities to the alternative parking if readily

17  achievable.  The facility may not reduce the required number

18  or dimensions of those spaces, nor may it unreasonably

19  increase the length of the accessible route from a parking

20  space to the facility.  The removal of an architectural

21  barrier must not create a significant risk to the health or

22  safety of a person who has a disability or to that of others.

23         2.  A facility that is making alterations under s.

24  553.507(2)(b) must comply with this section to the maximum

25  extent feasible.  If compliance with parking location

26  requirements is not feasible, the facility may provide parking

27  spaces at alternative locations for persons who have

28  disabilities and provide appropriate signage directing persons

29  who have a disability to alternative parking.  The facility

30  may not reduce the required number or dimensions of those

31  spaces, nor may it unnecessarily increase the length of the


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    1998 Legislature                 CS for SB 1498, 3rd Engrossed



  1  accessible route from a parking space to the facility.  The

  2  alteration must not create a significant risk to the health or

  3  safety of a person who has a disability or to that of others.

  4         (6)  Each such parking space must be prominently

  5  outlined with blue paint, and must be repainted when

  6  necessary, to be clearly distinguishable as a parking space

  7  designated for persons who have disabilities and must be

  8  posted with a permanent above-grade sign of a color and design

  9  approved by the Department of Transportation, which is placed

10  on or at a distance of 84 inches above the ground to the

11  bottom of the sign and which bears bearing the international

12  symbol of accessibility meeting the requirements of ADAAG s.

13  4.30.7 and the caption "PARKING BY DISABLED PERMIT ONLY." Such

14  a sign erected after October 1, 1996, must indicate the

15  penalty for illegal use of the space. Any provision of this

16  section to the contrary notwithstanding, in a theme park or an

17  entertainment complex as defined in s. 509.013(9) in which

18  accessible parking is located in designated lots or areas, the

19  signage indicating the lot as reserved for accessible parking

20  may be located at the entrances to the lot in lieu of a sign

21  at each parking place. This subsection does not relieve the

22  owner of the responsibility of complying with the signage

23  requirements of ADAAG s. 4.30.

24         (7)  It is unlawful for any person to stop, stand, or

25  park a vehicle within, or to obstruct, any such specially

26  designated and marked parking space provided in accordance

27  with this section, unless the vehicle displays a disabled

28  parking permit issued under s. 316.1958 or s. 320.0848 or a

29  license plate issued under s. 320.084, s. 320.0842, s.

30  320.0843, or s. 320.0845, and the vehicle is transporting the

31  person to whom the displayed permit is issued. The violation


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    1998 Legislature                 CS for SB 1498, 3rd Engrossed



  1  may not be dismissed for failure of the marking on the parking

  2  space to comply with this section if the space is in general

  3  compliance and is clearly distinguishable as a designated

  4  accessible parking space for people who have disabilities.

  5  Only a warning may be issued for unlawfully parking in a space

  6  designated for persons with disabilities if there is no

  7  above-grade sign as provided in subsection (6).

  8         (a)  Whenever a law enforcement officer, a parking

  9  enforcement specialist, or the owner or lessee of the space

10  finds a vehicle in violation of this subsection, that officer,

11  owner, or lessor shall have the vehicle in violation removed

12  to any lawful parking space or facility or require the

13  operator or other person in charge of the vehicle immediately

14  to remove the unauthorized vehicle from the parking space.

15  Whenever any vehicle is removed under this section to a

16  storage lot, garage, or other safe parking space, the cost of

17  the removal and parking constitutes a lien against the

18  vehicle.

19         (b)  The officer or specialist shall charge the

20  operator or other person in charge of the vehicle in violation

21  with a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as provided

22  in s. 316.008(4) or s. 318.18(6).

23         (c)  All convictions for violations of this section

24  must be reported to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor

25  Vehicles by the clerk of the court.

26         (d)  A law enforcement officer or a parking enforcement

27  specialist has the right to demand to be shown the person's

28  disabled parking permit and driver's license or state

29  identification card when investigating the possibility of a

30  violation of this section.  If such a request is refused, the

31  person in charge of the vehicle may be charged with resisting


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    1998 Legislature                 CS for SB 1498, 3rd Engrossed



  1  an officer without violence, as provided in s. 843.02 may be

  2  issued a citation for a violation of this section.

  3         (8)  It is unlawful for any person to obstruct the path

  4  of travel to an accessible parking space, curb cut, or access

  5  aisle by standing or parking a vehicle within any such

  6  designated area. The violator is subject to the same penalties

  7  as are imposed for illegally parking in a space that is

  8  designated as an accessible parking space for persons who have

  9  disabilities.

10         Section 2.  Section 316.1958, Florida Statutes, is

11  amended to read:

12         316.1958  Out-of-state vehicles bearing identification

13  of issuance to persons who have disabilities.--Motor vehicles

14  displaying a special license plate or parking permit issued to

15  a person who has a disability by any other state or district

16  subject to the laws of the United States or by a foreign

17  country that issues disabled parking permits that display the

18  international symbol of accessibility are recognized as

19  displaying a valid license plate or permit, that allows such a

20  vehicle special parking privileges under s. 316.1955, if the

21  other state or district grants reciprocal recognition for

22  residents of this state who have disabilities. However, when

23  an individual is required by law to have a Florida driver's

24  license or a Florida vehicle registration, a special motor

25  vehicle license plate or parking permit issued by another

26  state, district, or country to persons who have disabilities

27  is not valid and the individual whose vehicle displays such an

28  invalid plate or permit is subject to the same penalty as an

29  individual whose vehicle does not display a valid plate or

30  permit.

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    1998 Legislature                 CS for SB 1498, 3rd Engrossed



  1         Section 3.  Subsections (5) and (8) of section

  2  316.1964, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

  3         316.1964  Exemption of vehicles transporting certain

  4  persons who have disabilities from payment of parking fees and

  5  penalties.--

  6         (5)  Notwithstanding subsection (1), when an on-street

  7  a parking meter restricts the duration of time that a vehicle

  8  may be parked, a vehicle properly displaying a disabled

  9  parking permit is allowed a  maximum of 4 hours at no charge;

10  however, local governments may extend such time by local

11  ordinance.

12         (8)  Notwithstanding subsection (1), a county,

13  municipality, or any agency thereof may charge for parking in

14  a facility or lot that provides timed parking spaces any space

15  a vehicle that displays a disabled parking permit, except that

16  any vehicle with specialized equipment, such as ramps, lifts,

17  or foot or hand controls, for use by a person who has a

18  disability, or any vehicle that is displaying the Florida Toll

19  Exemption permit, is exempt from any parking fees.

20         Section 4.  Subsection (6) of section 318.18, Florida

21  Statutes, is amended to read:

22         318.18  Amount of civil penalties.--The penalties

23  required for a noncriminal disposition pursuant to s. 318.14

24  are as follows:

25         (6)  One hundred dollars for illegally parking, under

26  s. 316.1955, in a parking space provided for people who have

27  disabilities. However, this fine will be waived if a person

28  provides to the law enforcement agency that issued the

29  citation for such a violation proof disabled persons under s.

30  316.1955 or s. 316.1956 or provide proof to the clerk of the

31  circuit court that the person committing the violation has a


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  1  valid parking permit or license plate issued pursuant to s.

  2  316.1958, s. 320.0842, s. 320.0843, s. 320.0845, or s.

  3  320.0848 or and a signed affidavit that the owner of the

  4  disabled parking permit or license plate was present at the

  5  time the violation occurred, and that such a parking permit or

  6  license plate was valid at the time the violation occurred.

  7  The law enforcement officer, upon determining that all

  8  required documentation has been submitted verifying that the

  9  required parking permit or license plate was valid at the time

10  of the violation, must sign an affidavit of compliance. Upon

11  provision of the affidavit of compliance proof of such a valid

12  parking permit or license plate and payment of a $5 dismissal

13  fee to the clerk of the circuit court, the clerk shall dismiss

14  the citation.

15         Section 5.  Subsection (2) of section 320.0842, Florida

16  Statutes, is amended to read:

17         320.0842  Free motor vehicle license plates to veterans

18  who use wheelchairs.--

19         (2)  In order to be eligible for the motor vehicle

20  license plate described in subsection (1), a person must

21  comply with the following provisions:

22         (a)  The veteran must be eligible for the license plate

23  issued under s. 320.084 and must apply for the license plate

24  issued under this section in lieu of or in exchange for the

25  motor vehicle license number plate authorized by s. 320.084;

26  and

27         (b)  The veteran must offer, in addition to the proof

28  required by s. 320.084(1), proof that due to a

29  service-connected disability he or she permanently uses a

30  wheelchair or proof, in the form of an application that

31  conforms to the requirements set forth in s. 320.0848, that he


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  1  or she qualifies for a disabled parking permit under that

  2  section. The license plate entitles the person to all

  3  privileges afforded by a parking permit issued under s.

  4  320.0848.

  5         Section 6.  Section 320.0843, Florida Statutes, is

  6  amended to read:

  7         320.0843  License plates for persons with disabilities

  8  eligible for permanent disabled parking permits wheelchair

  9  users.--

10         (1)  Any owner or lessee of a motor vehicle who resides

11  in this state and qualifies for a disabled parking permit

12  under s. 320.0848(2) is permanently confined to a wheelchair,

13  upon application to the department accompanied by competent

14  and appropriate proof of disability, and upon payment of the

15  license tax for a motor vehicle registered under s. 320.08(2),

16  (3)(a), (b), (c), or (e), (4)(a) or (b), (6)(a), or (9)(c) or

17  (d), shall be issued a license plate as provided by s. 320.06

18  which, in lieu of the serial number prescribed by s. 320.06,

19  shall be stamped with the international wheelchair user symbol

20  after the serial number of the license plate.  The license

21  plate entitles the person to all privileges afforded by a

22  parking permit issued under s. 320.0848.

23         (2)  All applications for such license plates must

24  shall be made to the department.

25         Section 7.  Section 320.0848, Florida Statutes, is

26  amended to read:

27         320.0848  Persons who have disabilities; issuance of

28  disabled parking permits; temporary permits; permits for

29  certain providers of transportation services to persons who

30  have disabilities.--

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    1998 Legislature                 CS for SB 1498, 3rd Engrossed



  1         (1)(a)  The Department of Highway Safety and Motor

  2  Vehicles or its authorized agents shall, upon application and

  3  receipt of the fee, issue a disabled parking permit for a

  4  period of up to 4 years, which period that ends on the

  5  applicant's birthday, to any person who has long-term mobility

  6  impairment problems, or a temporary disabled parking permit

  7  not to exceed 1 year to any person who has a temporary

  8  mobility impairment problems.

  9         (b)1.  The person must be currently certified by a

10  physician licensed under chapter 458, chapter 459, or chapter

11  460, or by a podiatrist licensed under chapter 461, by the

12  Division of Blind Services of the Department of Labor and

13  Employment Security, or by the Adjudication Office of the

14  United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its

15  predecessor as being legally blind or as having any of the

16  following disabilities that render him limit or impair his or

17  her unable ability to walk 200 feet without stopping to rest:

18         1.  Inability to walk 200 feet without stopping to

19  rest.

20         a.2.  Inability to walk without the use of or

21  assistance from a brace, cane, crutch, prosthetic device, or

22  other assistive device, or without the assistance of another

23  person.  If the assistive device significantly restores the

24  person's ability to walk to the extent that the person can

25  walk without severe limitation, the person is not eligible for

26  the exemption parking permit.

27         b.3.  The need to permanently use a wheelchair.

28         c.4.  Restriction by lung disease to the extent that

29  the person's forced (respiratory) expiratory volume for 1

30  second, when measured by spirometry, is less than 1 liter, or

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    1998 Legislature                 CS for SB 1498, 3rd Engrossed



  1  the person's arterial oxygen is less than 60 mm/hg on room air

  2  at rest.

  3         d.5.  Use of portable oxygen.

  4         e.6.  Restriction by cardiac condition to the extent

  5  that the person's functional limitations are classified in

  6  severity as Class III or Class IV according to standards set

  7  by the American Heart Association.

  8         f.7.  Severe limitation in the person's ability to walk

  9  due to an arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition.

10         2.  The certification of disability which is required

11  under subparagraph 1. must be provided by a physician licensed

12  under chapter 458, chapter 459, or chapter 460, by a

13  podiatrist licensed under chapter 461, by an optometrist

14  licensed under chapter 463, by the Adjudication Office of the

15  United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its

16  predecessor, or by a similarly licensed physician from another

17  state if the application is accompanied by documentation of

18  the physician's licensure in the other state and a form signed

19  by the out-of-state physician verifying his or her knowledge

20  of this state's eligibility guidelines.

21         (c)(b)  The certificate of disability must include, but

22  need not be limited to:

23         1.  The disability of the applicant; the certifying

24  physician's name and address; the physician's certification

25  number; the eligibility criteria for the permit; the penalty

26  for falsification by either the certifying physician or the

27  applicant; the duration of the condition that entitles the

28  person to the permit; and justification for the additional

29  placard pursuant to subsection (2).

30

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    1998 Legislature                 CS for SB 1498, 3rd Engrossed



  1         2.  The statement, in bold letters: "A disabled parking

  2  permit may be issued only for a medical necessity that

  3  severely affects mobility."

  4         3.  The signatures of:

  5         a.  The applicant's physician;

  6         b.  The applicant or the applicant's parent or

  7  guardian; and

  8         c.  The employee of the department's authorized agent

  9  which employee is processing the application.

10         (d)(c)  Beginning April 1, 1999, the Department of

11  Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall renew the disabled

12  parking permit of any person certified as permanently disabled

13  on the application who has a disability upon presentation of

14  the certification required by paragraph (b).

15         (e)(d)  The Department of Highway Safety and Motor

16  Vehicles shall, in consultation with the Commission for the

17  Transportation Disadvantaged, adopt rules, in accordance with

18  chapter 120, for the issuance of a disabled parking permit to

19  any organization that can adequately demonstrate a bona fide

20  need for such a permit because the organization provides

21  regular transportation services to persons who have

22  disabilities and are certified as provided in this subsection

23  paragraph (a).

24         (2)  DISABLED PARKING PERMIT; PERSONS WITH LONG-TERM

25  MOBILITY PROBLEMS.--

26         (a)  The disabled parking permit is a placard that can

27  be placed in a motor vehicle so as to be visible from the

28  front and rear of the vehicle. Each side of the placard must

29  have the international symbol of accessibility in a

30  contrasting color in the center so as to be visible. One side

31  of the placard must display the applicant's driver's license


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  1  number or state identification card number along with a

  2  warning that the applicant must have such identification at

  3  all times while using the parking permit. A validation sticker

  4  must also be issued with each disabled parking permit, showing

  5  the month and year of expiration on each side of the placard.

  6  Validation stickers must be of the size specified by the

  7  Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and must be

  8  affixed to the disabled parking permits. The disabled parking

  9  permits must use the same colors as license plate validations.

10         (b)  License plates issued under ss. 320.084, 320.0842,

11  320.0843, and 320.0845 are valid for the same parking

12  privileges and other privileges provided under ss. 316.1955,

13  316.1964, and 526.141(5)(a).

14         (c)1.  Except as provided in subparagraph 2., the fee

15  for a disabled parking permit shall be:

16         a.  Fifteen dollars for each initial 4-year permit or

17  renewal permit, of which the State Transportation Trust Fund

18  shall receive $13.50 and the tax collector of the county in

19  which the fee was collected shall receive $1.50.

20         b.  One dollar for each additional or additional

21  renewal 4-year permit, of which the State Transportation Trust

22  Fund shall receive all funds collected.

23

24  The department shall not issue an additional disabled parking

25  permit unless the applicant states that they are a frequent

26  traveler or a quadriplegic. The department may not issue to

27  any one eligible applicant more than two disabled parking

28  permits except to an organization in accordance with paragraph

29  (1)(d). Subsections (1), (5), (6), and (7) apply to this

30  subsection.

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    1998 Legislature                 CS for SB 1498, 3rd Engrossed



  1         2.  If an applicant who is a disabled veteran, is a

  2  resident of this state, has been honorably discharged, and

  3  either has been determined by the Department of Defense or the

  4  United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its

  5  predecessor to have a service-connected disability rating for

  6  compensation of 50 percent or greater or has been determined

  7  to have a service-connected disability rating of 50 percent or

  8  greater and is in receipt of both disability retirement pay

  9  from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and has

10  a signed physician's statement of qualification for the

11  disabled parking permits, the fee for a disabled parking

12  permit shall be:

13         a.  One dollar and fifty cents for the initial 4-year

14  permit or renewal permit.

15         b.  One dollar for each additional or additional

16  renewal 4-year permit.

17

18  The tax collector of the county in which the fee was collected

19  shall retain all funds received pursuant to this subparagraph.

20         3.  If an applicant presents to the department a

21  statement from the Federal Government or the State of Florida

22  indicating the applicant is a recipient of supplemental

23  security income, the fee for the disabled parking permit shall

24  be $9 for the initial 4-year permit or renewal permit, of

25  which the State Transportation Trust Fund shall receive $6.75

26  and the tax collector of the county in which the fee was

27  collected shall receive $2.25.

28         (d)  To obtain a replacement for a disabled parking

29  permit that has been lost or stolen, a person must submit an

30  application on a form prescribed by the department and must

31  pay a replacement fee in the amount of $1.00, to be retained


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  1  by the issuing agency. If the person submits with the

  2  application a police report documenting that the permit was

  3  stolen, there is no replacement fee.

  4         (e)  A person who qualifies for a disabled parking

  5  permit under this section may be issued an international

  6  wheelchair user symbol license plate under s. 320.0843 in lieu

  7  of the disabled parking permit; or, if the person qualifies

  8  for a "DV" license plate under s. 320.084, such a license

  9  plate may be issued to him or her in lieu of a disabled

10  parking permit.

11         (3)  DISABLED PARKING PERMIT; TEMPORARY.--

12         (a)  The temporary disabled parking permit is a placard

13  of a different color from the color of the long-term disabled

14  parking permit placard, and must clearly display the date of

15  expiration in large print and with color coding, but is in all

16  other respects identical to the long-term disabled parking

17  permit placard in all other respects, including, but not

18  limited to, the inclusion of a state identification card

19  number or driver's license number on one side of the temporary

20  permit.  The temporary disabled parking permit placard must be

21  designed to conspicuously display the expiration date of the

22  permit on the front and back of the placard.

23         (b)  The department shall issue the temporary disabled

24  parking permit for the period of the disability as stated by

25  the certifying physician, but not to exceed 1 year.

26         (c)  The fee for a temporary disabled parking permit is

27  $15.

28         (4)  From the proceeds of the temporary disabled

29  parking permit fees:

30         (a)  The Department of Highway Safety and Motor

31  Vehicles must receive $3.50 for each temporary permit, to be


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  1  deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund and

  2  used for implementing the real-time disabled parking permit

  3  database and for administering the disabled parking permit

  4  program.

  5         (b)  The tax collector, for processing, must receive

  6  $2.50 for each temporary permit.

  7         (c)  The remainder must be distributed monthly as

  8  follows:

  9         1.  To the Florida Governor's Alliance for the

10  Employment of Disabled Citizens for the purpose of improving

11  employment and training opportunities for persons who have

12  disabilities, with special emphasis on removing transportation

13  barriers, $4.  These fees must be deposited into the

14  Transportation Disadvantaged Trust Fund for transfer to the

15  Florida Governor's Alliance for Employment of Disabled

16  Citizens.

17         2.  To the Transportation Disadvantaged Trust Fund to

18  be used for funding matching grants to counties for the

19  purpose of improving transportation of persons who have

20  disabilities, $5.

21         (5)  The applications for disabled parking permits and

22  temporary disabled parking permits are official state

23  documents. The following statement must appear on each

24  application form immediately below the physician's signature

25  and immediately below the applicant's signature:  "Knowingly

26  providing false information on this application is a

27  misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s.

28  775.082, Florida Statutes, or s. 775.083, Florida Statutes.

29  The penalty is up to 1 year in jail or a fine of $1,000, or

30  both."

31


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  1         (6)  Any person who knowingly makes a false or

  2  misleading statement in an application or certification under

  3  this section commits a misdemeanor of the first degree,

  4  punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

  5         (7)  Any person who fraudulently obtains or unlawfully

  6  displays a disabled parking permit that belongs to another

  7  person while occupying a disabled parking space or an access

  8  aisle as defined in s. 316.1955 while the owner of the permit

  9  is not being transported in the vehicle uses such a disabled

10  parking permit or who uses an unauthorized replica of such a

11  disabled parking permit with the intent to deceive is guilty

12  of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided

13  in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

14         (8)  A law enforcement officer may confiscate the

15  disabled parking permit from any person who fraudulently

16  obtains or unlawfully and uses such a permit.  A law

17  enforcement officer may confiscate any disabled parking permit

18  that is expired, reported as lost or stolen, or defaced, or

19  that does not display a personal identification number.

20         (a)  Beginning April 1, 1999, the permit number of each

21  confiscated permit must be submitted to the Department of

22  Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, and the fact that the

23  permit has been confiscated must be noted on the

24  permitholder's record. If two permits issued to the same

25  person have been confiscated, the Department of Highway Safety

26  and Motor Vehicles shall refer the information to the Florida

27  Abuse Hotline for an investigation of potential abuse,

28  neglect, or exploitation of the permit owner.

29         (b)  A confiscated permit must be held as evidence

30  until a judicial decision about the violation has been made.

31  After a finding of guilt has been made or a plea of nolo


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  1  contendere has been entered, the charging agency shall destroy

  2  the confiscated permit. A confiscated permit may not, under

  3  any circumstances, be returned to its registered owner after a

  4  finding of guilt has been made or a plea of nolo contendere

  5  has been entered in court. The permit number of each destroyed

  6  permit must be reported to the department, and the department

  7  must record in the real-time disabled parking permit database

  8  that the permit has been invalidated.

  9         Section 8.  Except as otherwise expressly provided in

10  this act, this act shall take effect July 1, 1998.

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