An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Disability Parking Spaces
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 0937
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: AYOTTE, JACKSON, CRAFTS, DAVIS, GIFFORD, LONG, TIMBERLAKE, HAMPER, SHERMAN, THOMAS
Amends: 29-A MRSA §521

Legislative Document 
No. 937 
H.P. 661 
House of Representatives, March 7, 2013 
An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Disability Parking Spaces 
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed. 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative AYOTTE of Caswell. 
Cosponsored by Senator JACKSON of Aroostook and 
Representatives: CRAFTS of Lisbon, DAVIS of Sangerville, GIFFORD of Lincoln, LONG of 
Sherman, TIMBERLAKE of Turner, Senators: HAMPER of Oxford, SHERMAN of 
Aroostook, THOMAS of Somerset. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  29-A MRSA §521, 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 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 windshield 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 of whether 
the person has been issued a disability registration plate or removable placard.  A parking 
space designated and clearly marked for persons with physical disabilities that is marked 
as van-accessible with an access aisle may be used only by a van or a vehicle that 
accommodates a side-loading wheelchair lift or ramp.  A person commits a traffic 
infraction if that person parks in a van-accessible parking space and that person's vehicle 
is not adapted for use of a van-accessible parking space, regardless of whether the person 
has been issued a disability registration plate or removable placard.  Notwithstanding 
section 2604, a person who violates this subsection is subject to a fine of not less than 
$200 $300 and not more than $500 $600. 
Sec. 2.  29-A MRSA §521, sub-§9-B, ¶E, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 528, §2, is 
amended to read: 
E.  Notwithstanding section 2604, a person who violates this subsection is subject to 
a fine of not less than $200 $300 and not more than $500 $600. 
Sec. 3.  Rules.  The Secretary of State shall by rule design a sign to indicate that a 
parking space is designated for use of van-accessible vehicles for persons with physical 
disabilities and to distinguish such a sign from other signs for disability parking.  The 
sign designating a space as van-accessible must be outlined in red.  Rules adopted 
pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in the Maine Revised 
Statute, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
SUMMARY 
This bill makes van-accessible handicapped parking spaces with an access aisle that 
are labeled as van-accessible available only to vans or vehicles adapted for use of a van-
accessible parking space.  It also increases the penalty range for violations of parking in 
access aisles from $200 to $500 to $300 to $600.