Can I Get A Disabled Space Outside My House In Tennessee?

Tennessee has a well-functioning, user-friendly disabled parking program. The Volunteer State provides a generous number of official disabled parking spaces for its disabled residents and visitors, and most municipalities in Tennessee also allow free parking for disabled permit-holders in metered, on-street parking spaces.

However, many Tennessee residents live in homes that are not as near as they would like to a disabled parking space. For residents who live an inconvenient distance from the nearest disabled parking space, is it possible to request a disabled space be installed outside their house?

Getting a disabled parking space outside your house can greatly increase your quality of life. Permit holders deserve a disabled parking infrastructure that is well-suited to their needs, and having a residential disabled space in Tennessee can be a real gamechanger.

So, can you get a disabled space outside your house in Tennessee? Who qualifies for a disabled space outside their house in Tennessee, and how do you apply? And who can park in residential handicap parking spaces in Tennessee? Let’s answer these crucial questions now.

road in tennessee
Image by 12019 on Pixabay: Can I get a disabled space outside my house in Tennessee?

Can I Get A Disabled Space Outside My House In Tennessee?

It is possible to get a disabled parking space outside your house in Tennessee. There is no fee to have a disabled space installed outside your house, and applications are decided on a case-by-case basis.

Who Qualifies For A Disabled Space Outside Their House In Tennessee?

Disabled parking permit holders qualify for a disabled space outside their house in Tennessee if it is judged to be necessary. Some of the factors that are taken into consideration when a person applies for a disabled space outside their house are:

  • The availability of off-street parking at the residence (garage, driveway, parking lot)
  • The location of the nearest on-street disabled spaces
  • Whether the person has a permanent disabled parking placard or license plates
  • Whether the home where the space is requested contains an accessibility ramp
  • Whether the applicant is eligible for paratransit services offered by the metro government

How Do I Get A Disabled Parking Spot Outside My House In Tennessee?

So, how do I get a disabled bay outside my home in Tennessee? To apply for a residential disabled parking permit in Tennessee, you need to contact your local department of public works. The local department of public works evaluates applications on a case-by-case basis.

Who Can Park In Residential On-Street Handicap Parking Spaces?

Tennessee handicap parking laws do not allow for disabled spaces to be reserved. Therefore, a residential disabled parking space in Tennessee is not reserved only for the person who applied to have it installed. Any disabled parking permit holder is entitled to park in a residential space once it has been installed.

What Types Of Disabled Parking Permits Are Available In Tennessee?

The following types of disabled parking permit are available in Tennessee:

  • Permanent disabled driver or passenger license plates or placards
  • Agency disabled placard – for organizations that transport disabled people
  • Temporary disabled placards – valid for up to six months
  • Disabled Veterans license plates

How To Get A Handicap Placard In Tennessee

To get a Tennessee disabled parking permit, go to the Dr. Handicap online clinic and set up a telemedicine consultation with a licensed doctor. The doctor will verify your disability and then complete the relevant sections of an application form. Once the form is completed, submit it to the Tennessee Department of Revenue.

street in nashville tennessee
Image by paulbr75 on Pixabay: How do you get a disabled parking permit in Tennessee?

What Are The Qualifying Conditions For A Disabled Parking Permit In Tennessee?

To qualify for a Tennessee disabled parking permit, a person must:

  • Be unable to walk 200 feet without needing to stop to rest
  • Have had a foot, arm, leg, or hand amputated
  • Have a disability that is certified by a licensed physician
  • Be unable to walk without the aid of a wheelchair, crutches, brace, or some other assistive device
  • Have vision worse than 20/200

Are Out-Of-State Disabled Permits Valid In Tennessee?

Disabled parking permits issued by all other US states are valid in Tennessee. Disabled permits from the following nations are also valid:

  • Canada
  • Mexico
  • All EU states
  • United Kingdom
  • Australia
  • New Zealand
  • Japan

Featured image by Paul Trienekens on Unsplash

Can I Use An Out-Of-State Handicap Placard In NYC?

New York City is the most highly populated city in the United States. The iconic metropolis is also one of the most visited vacation destinations in the world. The Big Apple boasts innumerable tourist attractions and is home to some of the best restaurants, nightlife, and theater venues in the world.

New York City also has excellent disabled parking infrastructure, providing for disabled drivers by supplying lots of designated disabled parking spaces in parking lots throughout the city. Disabled drivers can park in metered, on-street spaces in NYC for free if they have a New York City Parking Permit for People with Disabilities (NYC PPPD).

So, given that New York City is such a popular tourist destination: can out-of-state handicap placard holders use their permit in NYC? Can you use a California handicap placard in New York? Can you use an out-of-state handicap permit in NYC? What are the rules for out-of-state handicap parking in NYC? And how do I get a handicap parking permit in NY?

Read on for the answers to all these questions and more.

new york city view over river
Image by mpewny on Pixabay: Can you use an out-of-state handicap permit in NYC?

Can I Use An Out-Of-State Handicap Placard In NYC?

Out-of-state handicap placards are valid in New York City. They entitle their holder to park in designated disabled parking spaces in New York City. However, to be entitled to park in on-street, metered spaces for free in the Big Apple, a person needs to apply for a NYC PPPD.

What Are The Rules For Out-Of-State Handicap Parking In NYC?

Out-of-state disabled parking permit holders can use their permit to park in any designated disabled parking space in the state of New York. All designated disabled spaces in NYC are in parking lots. To park in metered, on-street spaces in the city of New York for free, a visitor needs to apply for a NYC PPPD to use while they are in New York City.

Can I Use My California Handicap Placard In New York?

The most commonly issued disabled parking permit in the United States is a California disabled parking permit. California permit-holders travel to the Big Apple in large numbers every year, all throughout the year, both on business and on vacation.

California disabled parking permits are valid in New York and allow their holder to park in any designated handicap space. However, all handicap spaces in NYC are off-street, in parking lots. To be allowed to park in metered, on-street spaces in New York City, a California permit holder will need to apply for a NYC PPPD.

Which International Handicap Parking Permits Are Valid In New York?

Holders of handicap permits from the following countries can use their permit in New York:

  • Canada
  • Mexico
  • EU
  • UK
  • Australia
  • Japan
  • New Zealand

New York State Handicap Parking Permit

A New York State handicap permit is valid in all other US states as well as in Canada, Mexico, UK, EU, Australia, Japan, and New Zealand. However, a New York State permit does not entitle its holder to park in metered, on-street spaces in New York City for free.

How Do I Get A Handicap Parking Permit In NY?

The best way to get a handicap parking permit in New York is to arrange a telemedicine consultation with a licensed doctor on the Dr Handicap online clinic. The doctor will verify your suitability for a disabled parking permit and then fill in the appropriate sections of a New York disabled parking permit application form.

new york city street
Image by Emily Xie on Unsplash: What are the rules for out-of-state permit holders in New York?

Qualifying Conditions For A New York Disabled Parking Permit

To qualify for a New York State disabled parking permit, a person must:

  • Have limited or no use of one or both legs
  • Have a neuromuscular dysfunction which severely limits mobility
  • Have another physical or mental disability which makes the use of public transportation difficult
  • Be legally blind

What Types Of Disabled Parking Permit Are Available In New York City?

The following types of disabled parking permit are available in New York City:

  • New York State Permanent disabled parking permit
  • New York State Temporary disabled parking permit
  • New York State Organization disabled parking permit
  • Disabled Veterans license plate
  • New York City Parking Permits for People with Disabilities (NYC PPPD)

Featured image by Michael Discenza on Unsplash

Can You Park Free At A Meter With A Handicap Placard In Texas?

Handicap parking in Texas comes with a lot of rules and regulations that everyone with a placard should be aware of. These rules are designed to help those with limited mobility get to where they need to go with ease. The parking regulations for people with handicap placards vary from place to place in Texas, but for the most part, disabled parking is accessible and free. So can you park for free at a meter with a handicap placard in Texas? And if so, where? Let’s find out.

What are the requirements for handicap parking in Texas?

To be able to park in Texas with a handicap placard, there are some criteria that you must first meet. Any of the following will qualify you for a disabled parking permit:

  • Inability to walk for 200 feet without resting
  • Inability to walk without an assistance device
  • Requires a wheelchair
  • Restricted from walking because of a lung disease
  • Uses portable oxygen
  • Has a cardiac condition that causes limitations
  • Limited mobility due to arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic conditions
  • Foot disorders that limits the ability to walk
  • Other health disorders deemed suitable by licensed health care professionals

You are also required to provide the signature of a medical provider on one of the approved forms that proves you require a handicap placard. The physician that signs off can be located in Texas or adjoining states such as Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, or Oklahoma. 

parking meter on street
Image by Saketh Garuda on Unsplash: Can you park for free at a meter with a handicap placard?

What are the rules for handicap parking spaces in Texas?

There are several rules that people must abide by when it comes to handicap parking in Texas. One specific law centers around placard expiration. If a person has parked in a spot and their placard is expired, they will have a 20 working day grace period where the person will be able to have the citation dismissed during that time.

People with up-to-date placards are allowed to park in a handicap spot for an unlimited amount of time, provided the vehicle is being used as a mode of transportation for a person with a disability. This law does not protect people against any fees or penalties that may be given by government or by a governmental unit for parking meters, in a parking lot or garage, or at a municipal airport. Those with handicap placards are still required to pay those parking fees.

There are certain exceptions to parking fees, though. For example, disabled veterans, or those who have received a Congressional Medal of Honor, Purple Heart, Legion of Valor, or Legion of Merit license plates, are exempt from parking fees. Prisoners of war and Pearl Harbor survivors are also exempt from those parking fees.

Who can park in handicap parking in Texas?

Everyone with a valid handicap placard is able to park in the handicap parking areas in Texas. There are two types of handicap placards available: a blue placard and a red placard. The blue disabled parking placard is given out to those who have a disability that is permanent in nature. They are valid for use in handicap parking zones for a total of four years. After the four years has elapsed, the placard will need to be renewed. Upon renewal, evidence of eligibility will not be required.

The red placard is given out to people with disabilities that will heal or improve over time – for example, temporary injuries that limit a person’s mobility. Upon receiving a red placard, a person can use it for up to six months (or how long the disability lasts prior to the expiration of the permit) to park in any handicap parking spot. If the disability lasts less than six months, the placard is no longer valid. If six months has elapsed and the disability is still affecting a person’s mobility, they can renew the placard with a doctor’s letter or a prescription.

parking meter
Image by Hafidh Satyanto on Unsplash: Parking in a general metered parking spot is free for those with handicap placards in Texas.

Is handicap parking free in Austin?

Although parking in a handicap spot isn’t always free for everyone with a placard, in Austin, a person with a handicap placard or license plate is able to park in general metered spots without having to pay for parking fees. The only catch is that the person parking cannot exceed the time limit of the spot, or they may face penalties.

Featured image by Tomek Baginski on Unsplash

How Much Does A Handicap License Plate Cost In Florida?

Today, we’re here to discuss the process of getting a handicap license plate in Florida. There are several types of disabled parking placard and license plate available to disabled drivers, caregivers, and organizations in Florida, with different costs attached to each. So how much does a handicap license plate cost in Florida? Read on to find out.

What Types Of Disabled Parking Permit Are Available In Florida?

The following types of Florida disabled parking permits are available:

  • Temporary disabled parking placard (valid for six months)
  • Permanent disabled parking placard or license plate (valid for four years)
  • Florida wheelchair license plate
  • Disabled Veterans license plate
  • Organization permit (for organizations that transport disabled people)
beach in miami florida
Image by Antonio Cuellar on Pexels: How much does a handicap license plate cost in Florida?

What Are The Qualifying Conditions For A Handicap Parking Permit In Florida?

A person will qualify for a Florida disabled parking permit if they have any of the following conditions:

  • Any impairment that limits a person’s ability to walk 200 feet without stopping to rest
  • Inability to walk without the use of or assistance from a brace, cane, crutch, prosthetic device, or other assistive device, or without assistance of another person
  • The need to permanently use a wheelchair
  • Restriction by lung disease to the extent that the person’s forced (respiratory) expiratory volume for 1 second, when measured by spirometry, is less than one liter or the person’s arterial oxygen is less than 60 mm/hg on room air at rest
  • Use of portable oxygen
  • Restriction by cardiac condition to the extent that the person’s functional limitations are classified in severity as Class III or Class IV according to standards set by the American Heart Association
  • Severe limitation in their ability to walk due to an arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition
  • Legal blindness

How Much Does A Handicap License Plate Cost In Florida?

A Florida handicap license plate is available to permanent disabled parking permit-holders for free. The fee for a wheelchair license plate is $28. Florida Disabled Veterans license plates are free.

How Much Does A Handicap Permit Cost In Florida?

A permanent disabled parking placard or license plate is free in Florida. Temporary disabled parking placards, valid for six months, cost $15.

What Medical Professionals Can Verify My Florida Disabled Parking Application?

The medical professionals that can verify a Florida disabled parking application are:

  • A licensed physician
  • A podiatric physician
  • An optometrist
  • An advanced practice registered nurse
  • A physician assistant
  • A licensed physician from another state (if the application is accompanied by documentation of the physician’s license in the other state and a form is signed by the out-of-state physician verifying their knowledge of Florida’s eligibility guidelines)

How Do I Get A Handicap Parking Permit In Florida?

You can get a handicap parking permit in Florida by having a consultation with a qualified medical practitioner who will verify your suitability. The applicant and the examining medical practitioner will then fill in an application form. The form should be submitted to your local County Tax Collector’s Office or License Plate Agency.

How Do I Get A Handicap License Plate In Florida?

To get a handicap license plate in Florida, you must be permanently disabled and/or a Disabled Veteran. You can apply for a handicap license plate by submitting a wheelchair license plate application form, along with a copy of the vehicle registration certificate, proof of identification with a Florida driver license or ID card, and proof of Florida insurance for the vehicle, to a motor vehicle service center. Wheelchair license plates must be renewed annually on the holder’s birthday.

cars parked on street in miami florida
Image by Matt Alaniz on Unsplash: How do I get a handicap license plate in Florida? We’re here to tell you!

What Are Florida Handicap Parking Laws?

So, what are the rules for handicap parking in Florida?

  • Florida disabled permit holders can park in any designated disabled parking space marked by the universal access symbol
  • Permit-holders can park in metered, on-street spaces for free for up to four hours
  • Placards must be hung from rearview mirror while the vehicle is parked and safely stowed when it is in motion
  • Out-of-state disabled permits are recognized in Florida

Is A Florida Handicap Permit Valid In Other States?

Florida handicap parking permits are valid in all other US states. They are also valid in several foreign countries, including:

  • Canada
  • Mexico
  • UK
  • EU
  • Australia
  • New Zealand
  • Japan

How Do I Get A Handicap Parking Permit In Florida?

The best way to get a handicap parking permit in your state is to arrange a telemedicine consultation with a state-licensed physician through the Dr. Handicap online clinic.

Featured image by MustangJoe on Pixabay

Is COVID Making People Drive More Recklessly?

Driving is a privilege that some confuse with being a right. There are rules and regulations by which every driver must abide while behind the wheel. These are in place to keep everyone on the road safe. After all, cars are heavy machinery, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), roughly 1.35 million people will die each year due to car accidents across the globe. In the United States, traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for people under the age of 54.

These statistics alone should be enough to ensure everyone lucky enough to own and operate a vehicle follows the rules of the road, but that’s not true for all. In fact, dangerous behaviors such as reckless driving are all too common – and may have become even more so during recent times. This leads to the question: is COVID making people drive more recklessly? Let’s find out.

What is reckless driving?

Reckless driving is defined as a willful disregard for the safety of people or property while operating a vehicle. In the United States, the laws surrounding reckless driving are clear; it is considered to be a major moving traffic violation. Although some may think that reckless driving is similar to careless driving, the two are not one and the same.

Some examples of reckless driving include speeding, tailgating (not leaving sufficient distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front), not using turn signals, running stop signs or red lights, drunk and distracted driving, and failing to yield to right-of-way laws on the road. The consequences of reckless driving can be serious. Aside from causing injury or traffic accidents, a driver who is caught reckless driving can be fined or imprisoned, or have their license suspended or taken away.

person driving car on empty road at night
Image by Gabe Pierce on Unsplash: Is speeding during COVID-19 on the rise?

Is reckless driving on the rise?

A report published by the National Safety Council in 2019 found that motor vehicle accidents causing death were actually decreasing. Between 2017 and 2018, they decreased by 2%, and then again between 2018 and 2019 they decreased by another 2%. The reasoning behind the decrease is not entirely known, but the report suggests that new laws and regulations, such as lowering the legal alcohol limit, go hand in hand with mitigating reckless driving.

However, pedestrians have paid the ultimate price for reckless driving in the past. According to the CDC, specific reckless driving incidents involving alcohol use account for close to half of all pedestrian accidents, with 17% of those being the driver who was under the influence. In terms of pedestrian fatalities, those numbers had also decreased by 3% from 2018 to 2019. Those downturns in deaths could be attributed to lowered rates of reckless driving – but after 2019, that has changed. 

Reckless driving during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has been taking its toll on the world in various ways since early 2020, and when it comes to reckless driving, it has played a hand in increased traffic incidents. According to an article published in the Washington Post, it took only three months into the pandemic for drivers to begin engaging in reckless driving behaviors such as speeding. This has led speed-related crashes to increase as well.

With empty roadways caused by lockdowns and stay-at-home orders, many who were out on the roads began to speed well over the limit. The assumption is that with less cars on the road, these drivers believed they could get away with it; however, for many people disobeying speeding laws, crashes ensued. The same article in the Washington Post stated that 42 people lost their lives in car accidents in the 45 days following the implementation of the state’s first pandemic stay-at-home order. (In the same period of 2019, only 29 people suffered the same fate on Minnesota highways.)

empty highway road at night
Image by Sebastian Staines on Unsplash: With empty roads, some “crazy” drivers during COVID-19 have come out of the woodwork to drag race and perform other dangerous driving maneuvers.

Emptied roads have left room for people to drive recklessly, and multiple reports of drag racing, speeding, and driving well over the legal speed limit have been reported across the country. Although there is less traffic (down 41% overall across the country), the increase in traffic incidents is a cause for alarm.

Driving safely is the main thing people can do to lessen the risk of fatal or serious car accidents. Reckless driving may have been on the rise during the pandemic, but those who are part of the problem should know that driving is a right and not a privilege. Driving safely is a responsibility and should always be treated as such, no matter the circumstances of the road or the world at large.

Featured image by Samuele Errico Piccarini on Unsplash