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Disabled Parking In The State Of Georgia: All You Need To Know

Georgia is one of the loveliest states in the U.S. It has precocious nature and wildlife, a rugged coastline facing out onto the wild Atlantic ocean, and some great cities such as Atlanta, Savannah, and Athens. The Peach State also has an efficient and well-functioning disabled parking program. Here is all you need to know about disabled parking in the State of Georgia.

What Disabilities Qualify a Person For Disabled Parking in Georgia?

To qualify for disabled parking in the state of Georgia, a person must be disabled in one or more of the following ways:

They cannot walk 200 feet without needing to stop to rest
They cannot walk without the aid of a brace, crutch, prosthetic device, another person, a wheelchair, or another type of assistive device
They have a lung disease to the extent that their forced respiratory volume for one second, when measured by spirometry is less than one liter, or when at rest their arterial oxygen tension is less than 60 millimeters of mercury on room air
They need to use a portable oxygen tank
They have a cardiac condition that the American Heart Association has designated as Class III or Class IV
They are severely limited in their ability to walk due to an orthopedic, neurological, or arthritic condition, or due to pregnancy complications
They are hearing impaired
They are visually impaired to the extent that their visual acuity does not exceed 20/200 in the better eye without corrective lenses, or if it does exceed 20/200 they have a limited field of vision in the better eye to the extent that the widest diameter subtends the no more than twenty degrees

Who Can Verify a Person As “Disabled” in Georgia?

In the state of Georgia, a medical professional must verify an applicant as suitably disabled in order for them to qualify for disabled parking. The medical professionals that are qualified to do this in Georgia are a licensed doctor of medicine, optometrist, osteopath, podiatrist, or chiropractor.

Image by skeeze on Pixabay: Seeing all the sights the state has to offer is easy with a Georgia handicap parking permit.

What Types of Disabled Placards and Plates Are Available in Georgia?

In Georgia, a person can get a permanent disabled placard, a temporary disabled placard, a permanent disabled license plate, or a Disabled Veterans license plate. A person does not need to own a vehicle in order to get a disabled placard, as they can use it in any vehicle they happen to be traveling in. A disabled license plate can be put on a vehicle owned by a permanently disabled person, or a person whose dependent is permanently disabled.

What Rights Does A Georgia Disabled Parking Permit Afford Its Owner?

Georgia disabled placard holders can park in any designated handicap parking space in the state. Handicap parking spaces in Georgia are marked with the International Symbol of Access.

Can Out-of-State Drivers Use Their Placards or Plates for Disabled Parking in Georgia?

Disabled drivers who are visiting Georgia from another state may use their out-of-state placards or plates to access disabled parking in Georgia. This affords them the same rights as a Georgia handicap parking permit holder. Georgia disabled drivers can also use their Georgia placards or plates in all other U.S. states.

How to Apply for a Disabled Parking Permit in Georgia

To apply for disabled parking in Georgia, you must download a Disabled Person’s Parking Affidavit. You must bring this form to a qualified medical professional and have them fill out the appropriate section. The applicant will have to fill in the rest of the form and then submit it via mail or in person to a Georgia Department of Motor Vehicles county tag office.

Image by stanbalik on Pixabay: As long as you know all the rules surrounding disabled parking in Georgia, you'll be good to go!

How Much Does A Georgia Handicap Parking Permit Cost?

Permanent and temporary disabled placards are free in Georgia. Disabled license plates cost a $20 plate fee.

Disabled Veterans plates are free. Applicants for a disabled veterans plate must fill in a Request for Manufacture of a Special Veteran License Plate form, and provide a Veterans Association entitlement letter or a certified statement from a suitable medical professional, as well as military discharge papers or documentation of current military service.

How To Renew an Expired Disabled Parking Permit in Georgia

Permanent placards in Georgia expire after four years. Temporary placards expire after 180 days. Permanent placards can be renewed at a local county tag office. Temporary placards cannot be renewed and must be applied for in full again. Disabled license plates are renewed when a vehicle’s registration is renewed.