An Act To Improve Wheelchair-dependent Parking Access . Reference to the Committee on Transportation s~lggested and ordered printed.
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0873
Sponsors: THIBODEAU, ADAMS, AYOTTE, CURTIS, GIFFORD, GILES, HASKELL, SA VIELLO

FIRST REGULAR SESSIOr~-2009 
Legislative Document 
No. 873 
H.P.604 
House Of Representatives, March 5, 2009 
An Act To Improve Wheelchair-dependent Parking Access 
. Reference to the Committee on Transportation s~lggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative THIBODEAU of Winterport. 
'111~ /J1. 71lt1!:~{ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Cosponsored by Representatives: ADAMS of Portland, AYOTTE of Caswell, CRA Y of 
Palmyra, CURTIS of Madison, GIFFORD of Lincoln, GILES of Belfast, HASKELL of 
Portland, SA VIELLO of Wilton . 
Printed ~n recycled ptlpcr 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §S21, sub-§9-A, as amended by PL 2005, c. 528, § 1, is 
further amended to read: . 
9-A. Enforcement of disability parking restrictions. A law enforcement officer 
may enforce disability parking restrictions. 
The State Police shall enforce disability 
parking restrictions at service facilities established on the Maine Turnpike and on the 
interstate highway system in the State. A person commits a traffic infraction if that 
person parks in a p£l:rldng space designated and clearly marlced for persons \yith physical 
disabilities and has not been issued or is not transporting .a person "yho has been issued a 
0 
disability r~gistration plate or a removable 'i'.'indshield placard pursuant to this section or 
section 523 or a disability registration plate or placard issued by another state. A person 
commits a traffic infraction if that person parks in an access aisle, regardless ofy,vhether 
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the person has been issued a disability registration plate or removable placard. 
Notvlithstanding section 2604, a person ",'ho violates this subsection is subject t6 a fine of 
not less than $200 and not more than $500. 
. 
A. A person commits a traffic infraction if that person: 
(1) Parks in a parking space designated and clearly marked for persons with 
physical disabilities and has not been issued or is not transporting a person who 
has been issued a disability registration plate or a removable w:indshield placard 
pursuant to this section or section· 523 or a disability registration ·plate or placard 
issued by another state; 
25. 
(2) Parks in an access aisle, regardless of whether the person has been issued a 
disability registration plate or removable placard; or 
. 
(3) Has a disability registration plate or removable windshield placard and parks 
in a van accessible disability parking space with an access aisle, as described 
under 28 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 36, Appendix A, Standards for 
Accessible Design, . Section 4.1.2(5), and does not require or is not transporting a 
person' who requires mobility. equipment,· including, but not ·limited . to, a 
wheelchair, or mobility equipment lift systems necessary for a person to enter or 
exit the vehicle safely. This subparagraph does not apply if the parking lot has 
only one designated disability parking space. 
. 
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B. Notwithstanding section 2604, a person who violates this subsection is subject to 
a: fine of not less than $200 and not more· than $500~ 
, 
SUMMARY 
This biII prohibits a person who possesses a disability registration plate or removable 
36· 
. windshield placard from parking in a van accessible disability parking space as described 
under 28 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 36, Appendix A, Standards for Accessible. 
Design, Section 4.1.2(5). This provision does not apply if the parking lot has only one 
designated disability parking space. 
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