Eligibility Standards

Any person with a disability as defined in section 49-117, Idaho Code, or any parent or guardian of a dependent child with a disability as defined in section 49-117, Idaho Code, without regard to the age of the dependent child, shall be eligible for the use of special license plates bearing the international accessible symbol, for any vehicle owned by such person or owned by a qualified parent or guardian, but excluding any commercial vehicle with a registered maximum gross weight over twenty-six thousand (26,000) pounds. The parking privileges granted under the provisions of subsection (7) of this section shall apply to any vehicle displaying special license plates or placard issued pursuant to this section.

 

Definition of a Disabled Individual:

A disabled person includes any person who is unable to walk 200 feet or more unassisted by another person or without the aid of a walker, crutches, braces, prosthetic device or a wheelchair; or without great difficulty or discomfort due to any of the following impairment types: neurologic, orthopedic, respiratory, cardiac, arthritic, blindness, or the loss of function or absence of a limb or limbs.

Applying for a Parking Permit

Complete the application and submit to Idaho Transportation Department Vehicle Services  go to the following link for the application Disability Plates: http://itd.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/3392Fill.pdf

Placard to the following link for the application Disability Placards : http://itd.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/3391Fill.pdf

Idaho Transportation Department Vehicle Services – Special Plates PO Box 7129, Boise, ID 83707-1129

The application form must be completed and signed by a licensed physician, a licensed physician’s assistant, or by a licensed advanced-practice professional nurse certifying that the applicant qualifies for disability license plates.

Three Types of Parking Permits

Permanent Disability

A disabled person includes any person who is unable to walk 200 feet or more unassisted by another person or without the aid of a walker, crutches, braces, prosthetic device or a wheelchair; or without great difficulty or discomfort due to any of the following impairment types: neurologic, orthopedic, respiratory, cardiac, arthritic, blindness, or the loss of function or absence of a limb or limbs. I.C. 49-117 (7B)

The department shall issue a special placard bearing the international accessible symbol and other information the department may require, to:

1. Any qualified person with a disability who does not own a motor vehicle;
2. Any qualified person with a disability who owns a motor vehicle, without regard to weight or use of the vehicle;
3. Any parent or guardian of a dependent child with a disability who owns a motor vehicle without regard to weight or use of the vehicle.

Temporary Parking

Any person who shall submit satisfactory proof to the department that he is so temporarily disabled as defined in section 49-117(7)(b), Idaho Code, shall be entitled to receive for one (1) motor vehicle only, a special placard to be affixed to a motor vehicle in a conspicuous place designated by the department, bearing distinguishing marks, letters or numerals indicating that the vehicle is utilized by a temporarily disabled person. This special temporary placard shall be valid between one (1) and six (6) months depending on the written authorization of the licensed physician, licensed physician assistant, or licensed advanced practice professional nurse and as specified by the department on the placard.

Organizational Vehicles

Any business entity, which is engaged in transportation of persons with a disability, which business shall not be required to submit a physician’s certification. In addition to other application requirements, a business applicant shall sign a declaration that he is engaged in the transportation of persons with a disability. A business entity may include, but not be limited to, hospitals, nursing homes, federal, state and local governmental agencies and taxicabs.

Using Parking Privileges

Placard or License Plate Use

1. A motor vehicle displaying a special placard issued by Idaho or any other state for a person with a disability is subject to all Idaho motor vehicle laws and is granted the following privileges when the person with the disability is present:

2. Authorization to park in any public parking space with metered parking without being required to pay any parking meter fee.

3. Authorization to park for unlimited periods of time in parking zones or areas which are otherwise restricted as to the length of time parking is permitted.

4. Special parking privileges do not apply to those zones or areas in which the stopping, parking, or standing of all vehicles is prohibited or which are reserved for special types of vehicles; to areas where vehicular parking is prohibited for periods in excess of forty-eight (48) hours; or to areas where parking is prohibited for certain periods of time in order to allow snow removal, street construction or maintenance, or for other emergency purposes.

5. Access to fuel from a full-service pump at the same price as fuel from a self-service pump. This applies to locations where fuel is sold at retail from both pumps (retailers are required only to pump fuel; no other services are included in the law).

6. Self-serve gas stations pump gas when a disabled person with a disability plate or placard requests assistance if there is no able-bodied adult in the vehicle and there is more than one attendant at the gas station. Special window signs will be posted at the gas station.

Responsibilities

When exercising their parking privilege, individuals must have their identification card in their possession and make it available to law or parking enforcement officials when requested. Failure to comply may result in a citation.

Use of Windshield Placard

When parked in an accessible parking space:

• Hang the placard from the rearview mirror post.  If there is no post, place it on the. dashboard.

• Make sure the placard is fully visible.

• Remove placard from mirror before moving the vehicle.

• Do not park in the accessible aisle located next to the accessible parking space.

Reporting Abuse of Accessible Parking

Law enforcement officials and/or their designees as authorized by a city or county shall enforce the provisions of subsections (1) through (9) of this section and are empowered, using reasonable discretion, to check personal identification to determine if the user of the plate or placard is authorized to use accessible parking privileges. Any fines collected shall be retained by the city or county whose law enforcement official issued the citation.

Where to Park and Free Parking

A motor vehicle displaying special license plates issued by Idaho or any other state for a person with a disability is subject to all Idaho motor vehicle laws and is granted the following privileges when the person with the disability is present:

1. Authorization to park in any public parking space with metered parking without being required to pay any parking meter fee.
2. Authorization to park for unlimited periods of time in parking zones or areas which are otherwise restricted as to the length of time parking is permitted.
3. Special parking privileges do not apply to those zones or areas in which the stopping, parking, or standing of all vehicles is prohibited or which are reserved for special types of vehicles; to areas where vehicular parking is prohibited for periods in excess of forty-eight (48) hours; or to areas where parking is prohibited for certain periods of time in order to allow snow removal, street construction or maintenance, or for other emergency purposes.
4. Access to fuel from a full-service pump at the same price as fuel from a self-service pump. This applies to locations where fuel is sold at retail from both pumps (retailers are required only to pump fuel, no other services are included in the law.)
5. Self-serve gas stations pump gas when a disabled person with a disability plate or placard requests assistance if there is no able-bodied adult in the vehicle and there is more than one attendant at the gas station. Special window signs will be posted at the gas station.

Penalties for Unauthorized Use

• Any use of the plate or placard by any person other than those meeting the definition of disability under section 49-117(7)(b), Idaho Code, or as otherwise authorized by this section, to obtain parking shall constitute an infraction punishable by a fine of one hundred dollars ($100).
• Any person who unlawfully possesses, sells, copies, duplicates, distributes, manufactures or aids and abets in the unlawful possession, sale, copying, duplicating, distributing or manufacturing of a special plate or placard is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days or by both. The court shall also impose as a term of the sentence a period not to exceed forty (40) hours of community service provided to a nonprofit organization which serves people with disabilities. The unlawfully obtained special plate or placard shall be subject to confiscation by law enforcement officials. Following conviction or dismissal, the special plate or placard confiscated by law enforcement shall be sent to the department.

Providing Accessible Parking

Persons who are limited in their ability to walk long distances may require features not available in standard parking spaces. For example, access aisles adjacent to the accessible parking space allow additional room for those using wheelchairs or other mobility aids to exit and enter their vehicles. Accessible parking spaces must satisfy requirements established by state law and the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

An accessible parking space must:

• be located on the shortest accessible route of travel to an accessible building entrance
• be located on a firm, level surface
• provide level or ramped access to the walkway
• have a sign displaying the International Symbol of Accessibility mounted at a height of at least 5 feet from ground surface to bottom of sign in full view of the driver

Dimensions for Accessible Parking Spaces

Standard Vehicle Accessible Parking Space

8 Feet Minimum Space + 5 Feet Accessible Aisle

Van Accessible Parking Spaces

8 Feet Minimum Space + 8 Feet Access Aisle  OR 11 Feet Minimum Space + 5 Feet Minimum Access Aisle

Maintenance of Accessible Parking Spaces

Individuals who own or control property must erect and maintain signs that designate the required accessible parking spaces. These parking spaces cannot be blocked or made inaccessible.

Number of Accessible Parking Spaces

Total Spaces in Lot	Min. # Standard	Min. # Accessible Van	Total
1-25	0	1	1
26-50	1	1	2
51-75	2	1	3
76-100	3	1	4
101-150	4	1	5
151-200	5	1	6
201-300	5	2	7