Opinion ID: 766203
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Effect of Public Law 100-641

Text: 16 The government urges us to view Public Law 100-641 and the regulations promulgated pursuant to it as justifying the placards surcharge. On November 9, 1988, prior to the passage of the ADA, Congress enacted Public Law 100-641, 23 U.S.C. S 402. This law indicates that the Secretary of Transportation shall issue regulations which: (1) establish a uniform system for handicapped parking designed to enhance the safety of handicapped individuals and (2) encourage adoption of such system by all the states. See id. 17 Pursuant to Public Law 100-641, the Department of Transportation (DOT) promulgated regulations in March 1991, eight months after Congress enacted the ADA. The DOT regulations provide in pertinent part that: 18 Special license plates, removable windshield placards, or temporary removable windshield placards displaying the International Symbol of Access shall be the only recognized means of identifying vehicles permitted to utilize parking spaces reserved for persons with disabilities which limit or impair the ability to walk. 19 23 C.F.R. S 1235.6 (1998). DOT regulations further provide that each state shall issue special license plates upon the application of a person with a disability that impairs the ability to walk and that [t]he fee for the issuance of a special license plate shall not exceed the fee charged for a similar license plate for the same class vehicle. Id.S 1235.3. In contrast to the provisions concerning license plate fees, neither Public Law 100-641 nor the regulations prohibit the imposition of placard fees. 20 The government's argument fails, however, because Public Law 100-641 is purely hortatory. See McGarry, 7 F. Supp. 2d at 1026. Congress enacted Public Law 100-641 two years before the ADA and has no enforcement mechanism. Even California concedes that in recognizing principles of federalism and state sovereignty, Congress rendered state compliance with Public Law 100-641 completely voluntary. 21 In contrast, the ADA expressly applies to the states through Congress's Fourteenth Amendment powers, as discussed in more detail in Part II. Regulations promulgated pursuant to the ADA bind states so long as the regulations are not arbitrary, capricious, or contrary to the ADA. See Does 1-5 v. Chandler, 83 F.3d 1150, 1153 (9th Cir. 1996). As discussed below, 28 C.F.R. S 35.130(f) meets that standard. We thus evaluate California's surcharge based on the requirements of Title II and 28 C.F.R. S 35.130(f). Public Law 100-641 does not impact our analysis.