Title: Disabled Parking Permits

Summary: Requiring a disabled parking permit to display the applicant's driver license or identification card photograph; providing an exemption; specifying the amount of a civil penalty for certain violations, etc.

Full Text:
An act relating to disabled parking permits; amending s. 320.0848, F.S.; requiring a disabled parking permit to display the applicant s driver license or identification card photograph; providing an exemption; revising and providing penalties for certain unlawful uses of a permit; amending s. 318.14, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 318.18, F.S.; specifying the amount of a civil penalty for certain violations; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2), paragraph (a) of subsection (3), and subsection (7) of section 320.0848, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 320.0848 Persons who have disabilities; issuance of disabled parking permits; temporary permits; permits for certain providers of transportation services to persons who have disabilities.  (2) DISABLED PARKING PERMIT; PERSONS WITH LONG-TERM MOBILITY PROBLEMS.  (a) The disabled parking permit is a placard that can be placed in a motor vehicle so as to be visible from the front and rear of the vehicle. 1.  Each side of the placard must display have the international symbol of accessibility in a contrasting color in the center so as to be visible. 2.  One side of the placard must display:a.  The applicant s driver license number or state identification card number along with a warning that the applicant must have such identification at all times while using the parking permit. b.   For a parking permit issued on or after July 1, 2018, a copy of the applicant s photograph that appears on his or her driver license or identification card. The photograph must be concealed by a movable flap or cover in order to protect the identity of the applicant while the placard is displayed in the vehicle. 3.  In those cases where the severity of the disability prevents a disabled person from physically visiting or being transported to a driver license or tax collector office to obtain a driver license or identification card, a certifying physician may sign the exemption section of the department s parking permit application to exempt the disabled person from being issued a driver license or identification card for the number and photograph to be displayed on the parking permit. 4.  A validation sticker must also be issued with each disabled parking permit, showing the month and year of expiration on each side of the placard. Validation stickers must be of the size specified by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and must be affixed to the disabled parking permits. The disabled parking permits must use the same colors as license plate validations. (3) DISABLED PARKING PERMIT; TEMPORARY.  (a) The temporary disabled parking permit is a placard of a different color from the color of the long-term disabled parking permit placard, and must clearly display the date of expiration in large print and with color coding, but is identical to the long-term disabled parking permit placard in all other respects, including, but not limited to, the inclusion of a state identification card number or driver license number and photograph on one side of the temporary permit. The temporary disabled parking permit placard must be designed to conspicuously display the expiration date of the permit on the front and back of the placard. (7) (a)   A Any person who fraudulently obtains or unlawfully displays a disabled parking permit that belongs to another person while occupying a disabled parking space or an access aisle as defined in s. 553.5041 while the owner of the permit is not being transported in the vehicle or who uses an unauthorized replica of such a disabled parking permit with the intent to deceive commits is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083 and by a mandatory civil fine of $250.(b)   A person who knowingly provides a disabled parking permit to another person for the purpose of the other person s unlawful use as provided in paragraph (a) commits a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318. (c)   A person who displays a disabled parking permit that is expired commits a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318. Section 2. Subsection (1) of section 318.14, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 318.14 Noncriminal traffic infractions; exception; procedures.  (1) Except as provided in ss. 318.17 and 320.07(3)(c), any person cited for a violation of chapter 316, s. 320.0605, s. 320.07(3)(a) or (b), s. 320.0848(7)(b) or (c), s. 322.065, s. 322.15(1), s. 322.16(2) or (3), s. 322.1615, s. 322.19, or s. 1006.66(3) is charged with a noncriminal infraction and must be cited for such an infraction and cited to appear before an official. If another person dies as a result of the noncriminal infraction, the person cited may be required to perform community service hours under s. 316.027(4), in addition to any other penalties. Section 3. Subsection (23) is added to section 318.18, Florida Statutes, to read: 318.18 Amount of penalties. The penalties required for a noncriminal disposition pursuant to s. 318.14 or a criminal offense listed in s. 318.17 are as follows: (23)   Two hundred and fifty dollars for a violation of s. 320.0848(7)(b) or (c). Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2018.