An Act To Ensure That Handicapped Parking Is Properly Enforced
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1250
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: RILEY, GRATWICK, AUSTIN, SHEATS, COLLINS
Amends: 29-A MRSA §521, 29-A MRSA §2602

Legislative Document
No. 1250
H.P. 873
House of Representatives, March 30, 2017
An Act To Ensure That Handicapped Parking Is Properly Enforced
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative RILEY of Jay.
Cosponsored by Senator GRATWICK of Penobscot and
Representatives: AUSTIN of Skowhegan, SHEATS of Auburn, Senator: COLLINS of York.
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 2015, c. 52, §1, is 
further amended to read: 
9-A.  Enforcement of disability parking restrictions.  A law enforcement officer 
may shall enforce disability parking restrictions on public property and on private 
property open to public use.  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 
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 person who 
violates this subsection is subject to a fine of not less than $200 and not more than $500, 
except that a court may suspend up to 1/2 of the fine and impose a nonmonetary sanction 
meant to educate the offender about accommodating persons with disabilities.  Testimony 
under oath with clear photographic evidence from a person with a disability or the driver 
of a vehicle transporting a person with a disability that a vehicle was parked in violation 
of this subsection is prima facie evidence of a violation of this subsection.  For purposes 
of this subsection, "person with a disability" has the same meaning as in subsection 1. 
Sec. 2.  29-A MRSA §521, sub-§9-B, ¶E, as amended by PL 2013, c. 381, Pt. C, 
§2, is further amended to read: 
E.  A person who violates this subsection is subject to a fine of not less than $200 and 
not more than $500, except that a court may suspend up to 1/2 of the fine and impose 
a nonmonetary sanction meant to educate the offender about accommodating persons 
with disabilities. 
Sec. 3.  29-A MRSA §2602, sub-§4, ¶B, as amended by PL 2003, c. 498, §6 and 
affected by §12, is further amended to read: 
B.  Of the fines and forfeitures collected for traffic infractions under sections 511, 
2354, 2356, 2360, 2380, 2387 and 2388, 7% accrues to the General Fund, 6% accrues 
to the Law Enforcement Agency Reimbursement Fund and the balance accrues to the 
General Highway Fund; and 
Sec. 4.  29-A MRSA §2602, sub-§4, ¶C, as amended by PL 2003, c. 498, §6 and 
affected by §12, is further amended to read: 
C.  Of the fines and forfeitures collected for violations other than traffic infractions 
under sections 511, 2354, 2356, 2360, 2380, 2387 and 2388, only $5 or 13%, 
whichever is greater, accrues to the General Fund and the balance accrues to the 
Highway Fund.; and 
Sec. 5.  29-A MRSA §2602, sub-§4, ¶D is enacted to read: 
D.  Fines collected for violations of section 521, subsections 9-A and 9-B must be 
remitted to the municipality in which the traffic infraction occurred. 
SUMMARY 
This bill requires a law enforcement officer to enforce disability parking restrictions 
on public property and on private property open to public use.  The bill provides that the 
court may suspend up to 1/2 of the fine for a violation of disability parking restrictions 
and impose a nonmonetary sanction meant to educate the offender about accommodating 
persons with disabilities.  The bill also provides that fines collected for violations of 
disability parking restrictions must be remitted to the municipality in which the violation 
occurred.