Disabled Parking?

Hi there,

This may be the wrong section to put this, but i couldn't see where to put it?

Can anyone advise me on disabled parking permits for california?

I am a disabled driver in the UK, and have what we call Blue badges, which entitles me to park in designated spaces etc.

So I was wondering, can I use these in California? or is there somewhere i can go to show mine to get the US equivilent?

I will be driving a car rental -perhaps they have them?

Im not sure where to look for the information?

Karleen

My wife and I travelled through the Cotswolds last Spring while making ample use of our own disabled parking permit. We don't call them "Blue Badges", but they are blue plasticized cards with a wheelchair icon, about 8" by 3", meant to hang from the windshield's rear-view mirror. Since ours was recognized in the UK, I strongly suspect that yours will be recognized in the US. You might want to check with the RAC or AA (Are they both still in business?) just to make sure, but I would not anticipate any problems.

AZBuck

That is a good question.

Is the version you have over in the UK removable and could you take it with you?

Here in the US, people either have the Handicapped symbol on their license plate, or they have a little blue card with the wheelchair image that hangs from the rearview mirror. Assuming the British version is similar, you could probably just use the one you already have.

Otherwise Here is the Information from California's DMV about how to obtain a permit. The webiste indicates they have a 90 day permit available for non-residents. It looks like you might even be able to get it via the mail.

The Uk Disabled badges are like this.

We just put them on the dashboard so that they can be seen, They do not have the facility to hang from the rear view mirror.

Although, I have looked all over the net, and the UK badges can be used pretty much all over Europe, and even Australia. It sayes that some parts of the USA allow them, but others dont?

So im still on a quest to find out? Perhaps, certain states give some kind of temporary badge for visitors/tourists?

Karleen

Your Blue Badge should work if you place it on the hire car dash. But it will be in a place where the police are not used to looking for it. So, I think if you have the time, say a few weeks to a month, I'd go ahead and fill out the form on the California DMV web site that Michael referenced, and send it in with the $6 (£3) to get a temporary California Disabled Parking Placard that will be recognized throughout the US.

AZBuck

Why don't you get a lanyard that has the gripper teeth and just use that to hang the UK disabled pass from the rearview mirror? Or some similar set-up. I would imagine it would be honored as long as it's hung from where people in the US normally look. But I think I would contact the CA DMV and ask. I'm sure they must have email addresses posted on their website.

On my wanders through the forums today, I have just come across this thread.

Is anyone able to tell me if the parking for disabled permit is a State by State one, or is a permit recognised across the country?

If it is State by State, would I have to contact the DMV in every State to check if my Australian permit is accepted? Or is there one central body which can give me this information.

And does anyone know the how it works in Canada?

I had almost resigned myself to being restricted to only going to places where I could get a very close parking spot.

In re-reading these posts from a couple of years ago, and looking at the British "Blue Badge" it is clear that the handicapped symbol is at least international if not universal. As with most items dealing with automobile registrations, titles, licensing, etc,, handicapped permits are issued by the individual states in the US and provinces in Canada. BUT just as every other state will recognize drivers licenses and plates issued by any state or province, so will they recognize a handicapped permit issued by any state, or for that matter by any foreign country. As with the responses to Bluebutterflier, you just need to make sure that your own Australian issued permit is in a place where the local constabulary are used to looking for it, and that is almost always hanging from your rearview mirror.

AZBuck

Thank you muchly, Buck. That makes it a lot easier. Mine actually has a suction cup on it, and sticks to the windscreen, but it will not take a moment to convert it to hanging from the mirror.

You know, until I saw this thread, I had not even given a thought to taking mine with me. Am just so relieved to know all this.

And to think that in 2007 I was hiking in the Grand Canyon!! Now I have days where I cannot even cross the road. :( Am dreading the day when I can no longer drive.

Yeah!! This is wonderful news. This is a great site.

Lifey who is now off to see what else she can learn

Hi

I used to have my application for a Visitors Travel placard by sending my application to the DMV in Sacremento and then it was processed, paid and collected at the local DMV office in Concord.


My application was completed and signed by local GP as like most visitors to California I do not have a physician in the US.

In 2005 I was told that I no longer need to obtain a California DMV placard as I could use my own badge issued from the UK and if needed I could quote the California Vehicle Code 22511.5 (b), which allows for Foreign Jurisdication issued placards to be given the same parking privileges authorised in Vehicle Code 22511.5.


It is worth taking a printed copy of the Vehicle code that can be displayed on the dashboard alongside your own badge. Though, I have never needed it as enforcement officers accepted I could use my badge.


http://dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc22511_5.htm

(b) A disabled person or disabled veteran is allowed to park a vehicle displaying a special disabled person license plate or placard issued by a foreign jurisdiction with the same parking privileges authorized in this code for any vehicle displaying a special license plate or a distinguishing placard issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Hope this helps.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by disabledtraveller

Hi

Hope this helps.

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It does indeed, welcome to the R.T.A. forums.

Thankyou for coming on board and offering helpful information on your first post, excellent !

I hope you enjoy the forums.

Dave.

Thanks for all the info. I have a placard that I always carry with me for display when I use other family members' cars (or friends') and when I rent cars. On the car I own, I have a permanent license with the wheelchair symbol. While I've never needed a handicap permit in other countries, I have used mine all over the USA and Canada and never had a problem.

The only time I ever had a problem was when I parked in a space and walked into the building with my placard in my purse. I got out of paying the ticket simply by going to the police department with ticket, placard, driver's license, and mobility impaired card in hand. They photocopied the whole mess and dismissed the ticket.

Sometimes, instead of hanging the placard, I've just left it on the dashboard, and have never had a ticket. One time, I forgot my placard at home, so I put my mobility impaired ID card on the dashboard, and no problem.

I also forget which car I'm driving and sometimes don't hang the placard when I use my daughter's car. Thankfully, no one was ticketing on those days.

Happy travels!

This comment by member wec67 were sent to me via personal e-mail, but I really thought they would be helpful to others so....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wec67

While we have never RV'd because they are just too few to find and rent, we have been to many national parks and nature trails. I read the page you linked and I would agree with it. Full accessibility can be a challenge due to the things you note like grading, gravel or other barriers. I would strongly recommend travelers call ahead to ask about accessibility. Don't just ask, is it accessible. The answer is always yes. Ask specific questions about grading, site access, pathways, ramps, stairs, facilities, etc. Ask "what can't I access in a wheelchair?"

That question usually gets someone thinking differently. We rented a beautiful cabin this summer in Tennessee that we found online that was specifically listed as wheelchair accessible. The photos online all showed a lovely one level wooden cabin with all the amenities of home including a disabled bathroom and ramp to access the wrap around porch. We called to confirm all information and were confident this would meet our needs. When we arrived there was a 4-6 inch step to get into each doorway from the porch! We never thought to ask that question. We called the owner (from the porch) and he came out in 10 minutes with lumber scraps to build a makeshift ramp for us to access the door. Lucky for us, he was quite willing to help and was very apologetic and it worked for us.

My wife and I frequently say, "Putting a blue wheelchair sticker on the bathroom doesn't make it accessible".

Candy Harrington has written more books recently.

I think she is a good resource for disabled travel.

The link I posted this morning was the most complete site I have ever come across about disabled parking/permits. It was very comprehensive. I was surprised to find out in NYC they don't honor any permits except a NYC resident one. We went to NYC a few years back and luckily parked in a public lot or we would have been ticketed and towed if we parked on a street. Some cities allow free parking for those with disabled permits. Again, a bit of internet research can help a traveler before they go.

I'm glad to help out where I can.

Ed

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Other resources on RTA:

Links Resource

An article written by Alice Zyetz about RVing with disabilities

Sheesh, I had no idea about that restriction on handicapped placards in New York. Seems outrageous to me.

Mark

That restriction is only in New York City, and it only applies to on-street parking. When was the last time you ever saw an on-street space available in NYC anyway?

George,

Remember I used to park really, really big RVs in downtown Manhattan. I have some trade secrets -- but it's really not that hard to find parking spaces -- just have to get a bit creative... (always carry large orange traffic cones...)

Mark

There were some universities and colleges (in CA) which had their own registration process to use a handicapped placard for their handicapped parking spots. It seemed ridiculous and redundant so I hope it has changed.