Can I Use My Handicap Placard In Puerto Rico?

Puerto Rico is a tropical island located in the Caribbean. It is a popular tourist destination for Americans thanks to its warm, sunny weather, sandy beaches, and stunning mountains, waterfalls, and rainforests.

Puerto Rico is a US territory, which means it is under the jurisdiction of the United States government. But are Puerto Rico’s disabled parking rules and regulations different from those in other parts of the US?

Disabled drivers who are visiting Puerto Rico tend to have several questions… Is there disabled parking in Puerto Rico? Can I use my handicap placard in Puerto Rico? How do I use a disabled parking permit in Puerto Rico? Are disabled placards good in all states? Today, we will answer these important questions.

Disabled Parking In Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico has a disabled parking program and handicap parking infrastructure. These are overseen by the Puerto Rico Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). All jurisdictions on the island, including all urban and rural neighborhoods and areas of natural beauty, are stocked with designated disabled parking spots.

street with puerto rico flag
Image by Tatiana Rodriguez on Unsplash: Can I use my handicap placard in Puerto Rico?

Can I Use My Handicap Placard In Puerto Rico?

So, can I use my disabled parking permit in Puerto Rico? Happily, the answer to this question is yes! If you are visiting Puerto Rico from any other US state, you can use your handicap placard to avail of Puerto Rico’s disabled parking infrastructure.

Using A Disabled Parking Permit In Puerto Rico

Using a disabled parking permit in Puerto Rico is similar to in any other state. The Puerto Rico disabled parking program is overseen and implemented by the local DMV and the Puerto Rico Police Department.

Can I Use My Handicap Permit In All US Territories?

You can use your handicap parking in all US overseas territories. The five permanently inhabited US overseas territories are:

  • American Samoa
  • Guam
  • Northern Mariana Islands
  • Puerto Rico
  • US Virgin Islands

Are Disabled Placards Good In All States?

Disabled parking permits issued by any US state are also valid in all other US states and overseas territories. But, as we mentioned earlier, each state has its own unique disabled parking program, so remember to research the specific details of the program in any state you plan to visit.

Can I Use My Disabled Parking Permit In A Foreign Country?

You can use your US disabled parking permit in the following countries:

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

What Rights Does A Handicap Permit Afford Its Holder?

A disabled parking permit entitles its holder to park in any designated disabled parking space in the US. These spaces are indicated by signs that are posted five feet above ground level and are marked with the International Symbol of Access.

In most jurisdictions, as well as being able to park in disabled spots, permit holders are also entitled to park in metered, on-street spaces for free. This is not the case everywhere, though, so always check before you travel.

What Laws Deal With Disabled Parking?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is the federal law that deals with disabled parking. All US states must adhere to ADA regulations. As a US foreign territory, Puerto Rico also adheres to ADA regulations.

How Do I Apply For A Handicap Parking Permit?

To apply for a disabled parking permit in your state, visit the Dr. Handicap online clinic. At the Dr. Handicap clinic, you will have a video consultation with a licensed medical professional in your state, who will verify your suitability for disabled parking.

Once your suitability has been verified, the medical professional will fill out the relevant sections of your state’s handicap parking application form and email it to you. You can then complete the rest of the application form and submit it to your local DMV.

san juan puerto rico
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What Types Of Handicap Parking Permits Are Available?

Most states offer the following types of disabled parking permits:

  • Temporary placard
  • Permanent placard or license plate
  • Disabled Veteran’s license plate
  • Organizational placard

What Are The Qualifying Conditions For A Disabled Parking Permit?

The qualifying conditions for a disabled parking permit include:

  • An inability to walk 200 feet without needing to stop to rest
  • An inability to walk without the aid of an assistive device or another person
  • Lung disease
  • Portable oxygen tank usage
  • Heart condition
  • Legal blindness
  • Substantially restricted mobility due to an arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition

Featured image by Zixi Zhou on Unsplash

Is Handicap Parking Free In Hawaii?

Hawaii has a modern handicap parking infrastructure that helps to make the lives of local and visiting permit-holders easier. All of Hawaii’s urban areas, rural areas, and attractions are well stocked with disabled parking spaces.

Applying for a disabled parking permit from the State of Hawaii is a simple process. Applications are processed quickly, and there are several types of disabled permits. Each permit is tailored to a specific set of needs and circumstances.

People who are new to disabled parking in Hawaii, such as newly disabled residents or first-time visitors to the state, tend to have several questions about disabled parking in the Aloha State.

What are the Hawaii handicap parking rules and regulations? Is handicap parking free in Hawaii? Can you park free at a meter with a handicap placard in Hawaii? Can I use my handicap placard in Hawaii? How do I get a handicap placard in Hawaii? Today, we will answer all of these questions and more.

Hawaii Handicap Parking Rules And Regulations

Handicap parking is a federal law. Disabled parking programs in all states must adhere to guidelines set out in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), but each state decides the specifics of its own handicap parking program. So, in practice, while all states adhere to the ADA, each state has its own unique version of a disabled parking program.

Hawaii, like all other US states, has its own set of handicap parking rules and regulations. These adhere to ADA guidelines but take Hawaii’s unique circumstances into consideration.

honolulu hawaii with rainbow overhead
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Is Handicap Parking Free In Hawaii?

It is free to park in designated disabled parking spaces in Hawaii. Designated disabled parking spaces are clearly signposted and marked with the International Symbol of Access. However, parking in metered, on-street spaces in Hawaii is not free.

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

Parking in a metered space in Hawaii is no longer free for disabled permit holders. On July 1st, 2021, the law changed, and disabled permit holders are now required to pay to park in metered spaces in the state. However, certain people will qualify for a Disabled Paid Parking Exemption Permit (DPPEP).

A DPPEP will entitle its holder to park in a metered space for free for up to 2.5 hours. To qualify for a DPPEP, a person must:

  • Be unable to reach above their head to a height of 42 inches from the ground due to a lack of finger, hand, or upper extremity strength or mobility; or
  • Be unable to approach a parking meter due to use of a wheelchair or other mobility device; or
  • Be unable to manage, manipulate, and insert coins, bills, or cards in a parking meter or pay station due to a lack of fine motor control in both hands.

To apply for a DPPEP, you will need to submit an application form to:

DCAB
P.O. Box 3377
Honolulu
HI 96801

You can renew an expired DPPEP, or replace a lost or damaged permit, by submitting a new application form to the same address.

Can I Use My Handicap Placard In Hawaii?

If you are visiting Hawaii from another US state, you can use your disabled parking permit to avail of Hawaii handicap parking infrastructure. Hawaii recognizes disabled parking permits from all other US states and also from several other countries, including:

  • Canada
  • Mexico
  • Great Britain
  • EU
  • Australia
  • New Zealand
  • Japan
sunset over water in honolulu hawaii
Image byjaspion82 on Pixabay: Can you park free at a meter with a handicap placard in Hawaii?

How Do I Get A Handicap Placard In Hawaii?

To apply for a Hawaii handicap parking permit, visit the Dr. Handicap online clinic and have a consultation with a state-licensed physician.

Once the physician verifies your suitability for handicap parking, they will email you a signed copy of the Hawaii disabled parking permit application form. You then complete the form and submit it to the Hawaii Department of Health. You can submit your application in person at any Satellite City Hall or by mail to:

Motor Vehicle Licensing & Permits
ATTN: Special Services Section
P.O. Box 30310
Honolulu, HI 96820

Are Hawaii Disabled Parking Permits Free?

The fee for a Hawaii temporary disabled permit in Hawaii is $12. Permanent Hawaii disabled permits are free.

Featured image by Kvnga on Unsplash

Is Handicap Parking Free In Alabama?

Alabama has a well-run and user-friendly disabled parking program. The Alabama program adheres to the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines and is similar to the disabled parking programs you will find in other US states.

The Alabama disabled parking program exists to improve the lives of disabled Alabama residents and disabled visitors to the state. In order for the program to operate optimally, it is important that all users understand and abide by its rules and regulations.

There are several questions that all Alabama disabled parking permit-holders, and visitors to the state, need to know the answers to, such as… Is handicap parking free in Alabama? Can you park free at a meter with a handicap placard in AL? Can you park in a handicap spot with disabled veteran plates in Alabama? What is the fine for parking in a handicap spot in Alabama without a permit?

Read on to discover the answers to these important questions.

Alabama Handicap Parking Laws

Although each US state abides by the ADA, each also implements its own unique handicap parking program. Alabama has its own disabled parking program rules, regulations, and laws. It is important that people who intend to use Alabama handicap parking infrastructure understand the specific Alabama handicap parking laws.

city of birmingham in alabama
Image by 12019 on Pixabay: Is handicap parking free in Alabama?

Is Handicap Parking Free In Alabama?

It is free to get a handicap parking placard in Alabama. It is also free for permit holders to park in Alabama if they are parking in a designated disabled parking space.

How Do You Recognize An Alabama Disabled Parking Spot?

Alabama disabled parking spots are signposted with the International Symbol of Accessibility. According to the ADA, all official disabled parking spaces must be clearly signposted with a sign that sits at least five feet off the ground.

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

Unlike in many other US states, disabled parking permit holders cannot park for free in metered, on-street spaces in Alabama. Disabled drivers must pay if they want to park in metered spaces in this state.

What Is The Fine For Parking In A Handicap Spot In Alabama Without A Permit?

If a person parks in an Alabama disabled parking spot without a permit they will be fined $50 for their first offense, $200 for their second offense, and $500 for any future offenses.

Can You Park In A Handicap Spot With Disabled Veteran Plates In Alabama?

Unlike in other states, a Disabled Veterans tag on its own does not entitle its holder to park in disabled spaces in Alabama. To park in disabled spaces, a disabled veteran in Alabama must have a disabled license plate or have a wheelchair symbol added to their Disabled Veteran tag.

How Do You Get A Handicap Parking Permit In Alabama?

To get a disabled parking permit in Alabama, you need to have a consultation with a qualified medical professional who will verify your disability. This is easy to do remotely through the Dr. Handicap online clinic. You, and the examining medical professional, will then need to complete an application form and submit it to a Local County Licensing Office.

Who Can Verify An Application For Disabled Parking in Alabama?

The only type of medical professional who is qualified to verify an application for an Alabama disabled parking permit is a licensed physician.

What Types Of Handicap Parking Permits Are Available In Alabama?

There are three types of disabled parking permits available in Alabama:

  • Long-term disabled placards and plates (valid for five years)
  • Temporary placards (valid for six months)
  • Organizational plates
city street in Alabama
Image by 12019 on Pixabay: How do you get a handicap parking permit in Alabama?

What Are The Qualifying Conditions For Disabled Parking In Alabama?

The qualifying conditions for a disabled parking permit in Alabama are:

  • The applicant cannot walk two hundred feet without stopping to rest
  • The applicant cannot walk without the use of a walking assistance device
  • The applicant suffers from a cardiac condition that is classified in severity as Class III or Class IV by the American Heart Association
  • The applicant is limited in their mobility by an orthopedic, arthritic, or neurological condition
  • The applicant suffers from lung disease to the extent that their forced respiratory expiratory volume for one second, when measured by spirometry, is less than one liter, or the arterial oxygen tension is less than 60 mm/hg on room air at rest
  • The applicant uses a portable oxygen tank

Featured image by Zach Farmer on Unsplash

Why Handicap Parking Permits Allow You To Skip Lines At The DMV

Waiting in line at the DMV is time-consuming and inconvenient at the best of times and downright infuriating at the worst. DMV offices are usually busy, and lines are long and slow-moving. It can take a long time to get to the top of the queue in order to submit your disabled parking permit application.

The vast majority of people would rather not have to wait in line at all. Luckily, in most states, it is possible to avoid waiting in long lines at your local DMV office. The best way to do this is to submit your disabled parking application forms online, which many states now allow residents to do. And in states that do not yet allow online applications, submissions by mail are the norm.

Did you know that with the help of the Dr. Handicap online clinic, you can avoid waiting in line at the DMV by having Dr. Handicap mail your completed application on your behalf? Below, we explore this and other ways you can avoid wasting time in long lines at your local DMV.

What Is The DMV?

DMV stands for Department of Motor Vehicles. Each state has its own DMV that is responsible for administering driving tests, registering vehicles, and issuing disabled parking permits.

DMV is the most common name for this branch of state government, with 23 states and the District of Columbia using it. The next most common names are Motor Vehicle Division (MVD), which is used in five states, and Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), which is used in three states.

person using tablet
Image by pexels on Pixabay: Dr. Handicap can help you avoid lines at the DMV.

What Is A DMV Disability Placard?

A DMV disability placard is another name for a disabled parking placard. It is also sometimes called a disability permit, a handicap parking placard, or a disability decal.

All of these names refer to the same permit. Each state issues its own version of a DMV disability placard, which entitles its holder to park in designated disabled parking spaces and often to park in metered, on-street spaces free of charge.

How Do I Get A Handicap Placard From The DMV?

You can get a handicap placard from your local DMV by submitting an application form. The form needs to be filled in by the applicant and by a licensed medical professional who has verified the applicant’s disability and suitability for disabled parking.

Can I Get A Disabled Permit From The DMV Online?

In several states, you can now apply for your disabled parking permit online. California has introduced a fully online application process, for example, and it has proven to be a massive success.

Unfortunately, not all states have introduced a fully online application process yet, so you should check with your local DMV to find out if it is possible where you live.

Can I Renew My Handicap Placard Online?

In the states that allow online disabled parking applications, you can also apply to renew a handicap placard online.

Why Handicap Parking Permits Allow You To Skip Lines At The DMV

The best ways to skip lines at the DMV are to apply fully online or to mail in your application. If you already have a permanent handicap parking permit and you need to renew, you usually do not need new verification from a medical professional, so you can just mail an application form directly to your local DMV.

person waiting
Image by JESHOOTS-com on Pixabay: Waiting in line at the DMV is time-consuming.

Dr. Handicap Can Help You Avoid The Lines At The DMV

The Dr. Handicap online clinic can help you to avoid lines at the DMV by mailing your application to your local DMV if that service is available in your state.

At the clinic, you will have a remote video consultation with a medical professional, who will fill in the necessary sections of your application form. This means you can complete the entire handicap parking permit application process from the comfort of your own home.

What If You Are Visiting The DMV In Person?

Some states require that you submit applications for certain types of permits in person. If your state does not allow online or mail applications and you must visit the DMV in person, you can request assistance at the customer service desk. All DMV offices will assist any disabled customers and ensure that they receive any help they need.

Featured image by John Diez on Pexels

How Do I Renew My Handicap Sticker In Georgia?

The State of Georgia has an excellent disabled parking program. The process of applying for a Georgia permit is easy to navigate and the state is amply supplied with disabled parking infrastructure. Georgia residents, as well as visitors to the state who have an out-of-state handicap parking permit, get to avail of a disabled parking program that makes life a lot more manageable for people with mobility issues.

In order for the Georgia handicap parking program to work well, it needs to be appropriately regulated. Georgia handicap parking authorities run a tight ship, with a firm-but-fair implementation of the rules.

It is important that people who are using the handicap parking program in Georgia understand the rules and regulations. They need to know what types of permits are available in Georgia, who qualifies for disabled parking in the state, how to apply for a permit, and how to renew a handicap permit in Georgia.

Below, we will answer several crucial questions about the Georgia handicap parking program, including… How do I renew my handicap sticker in Georgia? How much does a handicap placard cost in Georgia? And how do you get a handicap sticker in Georgia?

atlanta city at night in georgia
Image by 12019 on Pixabay: How do I renew my handicap sticker in Georgia?

Who Can Apply For A Georgia Disabled Parking Permit?

Any resident of Georgia can apply for a handicap parking placard in the state. They will need to have a qualifying temporary or permanent disability. A business, institution, or organization can also apply for a Georgia handicap parking permit if they transport disabled people.

What Types Of Handicap Parking Permits Are Available In Georgia?

The following disabled parking permits are available in Georgia:

  • Temporary placard
  • Permanent placard (also issued to businesses, institutions, and organizations)
  • Special equipment permanent placard (issued to people with permanent disabilities who drive a vehicle with hand controls or who have lost the use of both upper extremities)
  • Permanent license plate
  • Disabled veterans license plate

How Long Are Georgia Handicap Parking Permits Valid For?

Permanent disabled permits in Georgia are valid for four years. A temporary permit is valid for 180 days. Both types of disabled parking permits can be renewed when they expire.

How Do I Renew My Handicap Sticker In Georgia?

The Georgia disabled placard renewal process is straightforward. You need to download or collect an application form from the Georgia Department of Revenue. You’ll then complete sections A, B, and F of the application form and submit it, either in person or by post, to the local County Tag Office. When renewing a permanent permit, there is no need to get a new medical professional’s verification.

You cannot renew a temporary permit; instead you must apply for a new temporary permit, including new verification from a licensed medical professional.

city in georgia usa
Image by Wesley Hall on Unsplash: How much does a handicap placard cost in Georgia?

How Do You Get A Handicap Sticker In Georgia?

To apply for your first permanent Georgia handicap sticker, or any temporary permit, arrange a telemedicine consultation with a medical professional through the Dr. Handicap online clinic. Once your disability has been verified, the medical professional will complete the relevant sections of an application form, which you can then complete and submit to your local County Tag Office.

How Much Does A Handicap Placard Cost In Georgia?

Temporary, permanent, and special permanent disabled parking permits in Georgia are free. A handicap license plate costs $20.

Who Can Verify An Application For A Georgia Handicap Parking Permit?

The following licensed medical professionals can verify an application for a disabled parking permit in Georgia:

  • Doctor of medicine or osteopathic medicine
  • Podiatrist
  • Optometrist
  • Chiropractor

What Are The Qualifying Conditions For A Georgia Handicap Parking Permit?

The following disabilities qualify a person for disabled parking in Georgia:

  • Being severely hearing impaired
  • Any disability that will incapacitate a person for more than 180 days
  • An inability to walk 200 feet without stopping to rest
  • An inability to walk without the use of or assistance from a brace, a cane, a crutch, another person, a prosthetic device, a wheelchair, or another assistive device
  • Lung disease
  • Portable oxygen usage
  • A cardiac condition that is classified in severity as Class III or Class IV according to the American Heart Association
  • Visually impaired
  • Severely limited mobility due to an arthritic, neurological, or  orthopedic condition, or complications due to pregnancy

What Are The Georgia Handicap Parking Laws?

A Georgia handicap permit entitles its holder to park in any designated disabled parking space in Georgia or in any other US state. It also entitles its holder to park in metered, on-street spaces free of charge and for unlimited time periods in some jurisdictions.

Featured image by 12019 on Pixabay