Parking for People with Physical Disabilities
You’ve seen the wheelchair-logo license plates, probably on a car
in a specially-marked, accessible parking space. These are two of the opportunities
offered to help people with physical disabilities live independently in the community: to
shop, to work, to go to school.
This information sheet describes the parking privileges offered to people with physical
disabilities in Wisconsin. It also describes the enforcement of parking restrictions, and
the potential penalties for violations.
In Wisconsin, motor vehicles registered with Disabled or Disabled
Veteran license plates are subject to most regular parking laws. The same is true for
vehicles displaying a Disabled Parking Identification Card. These vehicles, however, are
granted several parking privileges as accommodations for people with physical
disabilities.
They are exempt from time limitations in parking places with a
half-hour or more limit.
Payment is not required in metered parking stalls with half-hour or
more time limitation.
Parking is authorized in places reserved for people with
disabilities.
Parking privileges are available only to people in the following
four categories.
People who own or operate a vehicle for which Disabled or Disabled
Veteran license plates have been issued, but only when the person with the disability
is present.
People issued a Disabled Parking ID Card that is displayed on the
vehicle when entering or exiting it. Cards issued after July 1, 1994 are designed to be
hung from the rear-view mirror. The Department of Transportation recommends removing the
card when the vehicle is operated to avoid compromising the driver’s view.
People authorized to operate a vehicle owned or operated by an
organization for which a parking ID card was issued, but only when providing access to or
from the vehicle for a person with a disability.
A licensed driver acting under the direction of a person who has been
issued Disabled or Disabled Veteran license plates or a Disabled Parking ID
Card, but only when providing access to or from the vehicle for the person with a
disability.
Law enforcement officers are empowered to enforce disabled parking
restrictions in public or private lots that have parking stalls posted with official
signs. Any citizen or property owner may request enforcement. Violators may be required to
forfeit not less than $30, nor more than $300. A person or organization who lends to
another a Disabled Parking ID Card, knowing the person is not authorized by law to use it,
may be fined up to $200 and ordered to return the card to the State Department of
Transportation.
The State Department of Transportation requires recertification every
four years for special plates and ID cards issued to each participant with a permanent
disability. The goal of recertification is to minimize abuse of parking privileges by
unauthorized persons.
For more information, contact the Wisconsin Department of
Transportation (DOT) at 608/266-3041.
You can write the DOT Special Plates Unit at: 4802 Sheboygan Avenue, Room 201; PO Box
7911; Madison, Wisconsin; 53707-7911.
Information also is available on DOT’s
web site (exit DHFS).
FILE #18: March, 2000.
Alternative format versions are available on request.
Back to the physical disability
FILE main page.
Last Revised: January 30, 2006
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