Guide On Disabled Parking In Georgia State
With so many different rules and factors determining who is and who isn't eligible for a handicap parking permit, it can be difficult to understand if you or someone you know is eligible for the parking permit that you may require. Because laws differ from state to state, finding the qualifications for Georgia and ensuring you qualify will save you time and money by ensuring you can get the services you need without worrying about whether you qualify or not.
Most major parking lots in Georgia will set aside at least a few special parking spaces near the entrance of their respective building for disabled customers only. These are for people who have difficulty getting around on their own after exiting their vehicle. To legally park in one of these spaces, you must first apply for a special handicap placard or license plate that indicates you are mobility impaired. Anyone caught parking in one of these spots without the proper placard or plate will be ticketed and fined heavily.
Conditions To Qualify
Handicap placards are issued based on how a condition affects your walking ability. Many people have attempted to circumvent the system and obtain disabled parking status despite being completely healthy or having a condition that does not impair their ability to drive or walk. As a result, strict guidelines for who qualifies for disabled parking have been established. It is not enough to have a disease or illness.
Hearing Disability
Common sense would suggest that having a hearing disability or a condition that makes it difficult to hear certain things or even being completely deaf would qualify you for a handicapped parking space. Inquiring with your doctor about the level of hearing loss will help you determine whether it is severe enough to warrant a special parking permit.
Using Portable Oxygen
For people with diseases or conditions that necessitate using an external oxygen tank, such as
CPAP,
COPD, emphysema, or other respiratory diseases, an oxygen tank is essential to ensuring a sustainable quality of life. However, the extra weight and size that the oxygen tanks provide can often make everyday activities seem like highly difficult and strenuous chores that impede the ease of movement. If you or someone you know needs to use an oxygen tank regularly, you are very likely to be eligible for a parking pass.
Inability To Walk 200 Feet Unassisted
Whether it's because of age or a medical condition that prevents you from walking 200 feet without a cane or stopping to rest, having a parking spot closer to your destination will not only save you time but will also allow you to avoid spending too much energy on a fairly common activity. A doctor can determine whether your condition and its impact on your daily life are severe enough to warrant a parking permit based on its severity.
Heart Diseases
With the prevalence of heart disease on the rise in the United States, more people than ever are requesting parking permits to avoid the strain that long bursts of walking can place on their bodies due to their hearts' inability to pump blood efficiently. With chronic illnesses and various forms of heart disabilities qualifying for disability services, it is critical to understand which conditions you are suffering from to be compensated for a disability that often goes unnoticed but can make life much more difficult.
Complications During Pregnancy
Pregnancy complications are distinct from the other disabilities recognized because they typically last only for the duration of the pregnancy or for a short time afterward. With issues like high blood pressure, anemia, infections, and a slew of other complications that come with carrying a child, obtaining a temporary permit to park in handicap spaces for your pregnancy term is a must. Suppose you have one of these pregnancy conditions. In that case, your doctor may be able to obtain a temporary permit and assist you in dealing with some of the common pregnancy complications that can make life a little more difficult.
Vision Impairments
One of the most difficult conditions to verify and correctly label as a disability, a visual impairment, can make driving much more difficult or even impossible, depending on the severity of your visual impairment. With vision impairments, obtaining a pass that makes getting to a destination easier can alleviate a significant burden on the shoulders of those who are partially or legally blind. If you have been deemed unfit to drive due to severe blindness, you should not drive, even if you believe you are eligible for a specialized parking pass.
Application For Disabled Parking
The first thing you should do is figure out what kind of handicap permit you'll need. Temporary placards (valid for up to six months) and permanent placards are available. Georgia also provides special permanent placards (in gold) to disabled people who drive a vehicle with hand controls for the brakes and accelerator or are disabled due to loss of or loss of use of both upper extremities. You can also apply for a disabled driver's license plate, which will cost you
$20.
Once you've decided which placard is right for you, you'll need to fill out the application. Entering some of your personal information, such as your address, phone number, and driver's license number will be required. The certification from your doctor is perhaps the most important part of the application.
It would be best to go to your local Georgia tag office with a completed and notarized Disabled Person's Parking Affidavit (
Form MV-9D). Part of it will be completed by your doctor, who will certify that you have a condition that impairs your movement. Depending on the severity of your condition, your handicap placard may be permanent or temporary. You will be able to select from a handicap parking placard that hangs from your rearview mirror, a special parking decal, or a permanent license plate with the handicap symbol. You cannot have a plate and a placard simultaneously, though you may request additional placards if you have more than one vehicle.
Disabled Person's License Plate
A license plate for a disabled person costs $20, plus any other fees and penalties that may apply, such as ad valorem tax or title tax, if applicable.
If the vehicle currently has a valid Georgia license plate and you request a disabled person's license plate, the Georgia license plate must be returned to the license plate office.
Disabled Person's Placards
Temporary placards are valid for six months from the date they are issued. A newly completed MV9-D form must be submitted to renew a temporary placard.
Permanent placards must be replaced every four years, but an MV9-D replacement is unnecessary. To renew a permanent placard, the original placard holder must bring their current placard and their Georgia driver's license or Georgia ID card to any Gwinnett tag office. Proof of residency is required if the driver's license or ID does not have a Gwinnett address.
Validity
The validity of a handicap parking permit, whether temporary or permanent, varies.
- Temporary Parking Permit
- Permanent Parking Permit
- Special Permanent Parking Permit
- Valid for 4 years
- The vehicle is equipped with special controls for the disabled driver with upper extremity impairments
- Disabled Person's License Plate
The expiration date on your placard or plate should be used to renew your permanent or temporary handicap parking permit.
Fees
All handicap placards are free if you qualify and correctly complete the application requirements. A fee will be charged for the creation of a permanent license plate. Handicap designations obtained in Georgia are recognized throughout the country, and those obtained in other states are also valid in Georgia (saving you the trouble of getting a new one for every state and making your Georgia plate that much more useful). Your permanent placard must be renewed every four years. A temporary permit is only valid for 180 days. Your doctor must reassess whether you still qualify for disabled parking.
Afterword
Once you've obtained your placard, you should know a few things about disabled parking in Georgia. Once your vehicle is parked, make sure your placard is visible (on your rearview mirror or dashboard); it should not be hanging up while you're driving. The most important thing to remember is that you can only use your placard; you cannot lend it to friends or family members. Its sole purpose should be when you're in the vehicle, whether you're driving or just a passenger.
A disabled parking permit in Georgia allows you to park in designated handicapped parking areas throughout the state. However, if parking is prohibited in a specific location, you are not permitted to park there, even if you have a disabled parking placard. Other specific privileges (such as parking in permitted residential areas) are at the discretion of each county.
