A Guide To Disabled Parking In Oklahoma

Dealing with a disability can often mean you lose energy doing simple tasks, including just walking across a parking lot. Well, you can remedy that part by getting an Oklahoma disabled parking permit. With a handicap placard in hand, you can get access to close, convenient parking places, and you won’t have to waste all your energy making the trek from the parking lot to the store or office building. The process of getting a placard is pretty simple, so here’s a breakdown of how to get a disabled parking permit in Oklahoma.

Step 1: Figure out if you have a qualifying condition.

In order to qualify for an Oklahoma handicap parking permit, you need to have a medical condition that is considered a disability. These can include:

• Not being able to walk more than 200 feet without stopping to rest
• Not being able to walk without the use of or assistance from a brace, cane, crutch, another person, prosthetic device, wheelchair, or other assistive devices
• Being restricted to such an extent that your forced (respiratory) expiratory volume for one liter or the arterial oxygen tension is less than 60 MM/HG on room air at rest
• Needing to use portable oxygen
• Having functional limitations which are classified in severity as Class III or Class IV, according to the standards set by the American Heart Association
• Being severely limited in your ability to walk due to an arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition, or complications due to pregnancy
• Being certified legally blind
• Missing one or more limbs, which impairs mobility

You will need a medical professional to verify that you have one of these limitations and that you would benefit from getting access to disabled parking in Oklahoma.

Step 2: Get a medical certification.

You will need a medical professional to assist with the medical certification portion of the application. This person can be a physician that is licensed to practice:

• Medicine
• Surgery
• Osteopathic medicine
• Chiropractic medicine
• Podiatric medicine
• Optometry

They can also be a licensed physician assistant or a licensed and certified advanced registered nurse practitioner. They’ll need to fill out the application acknowledging that you do have a disability and indicating that you need either a temporary placard (issued for a maximum of six months) or a permanent, five-year placard. They’ll also be required to provide their license number, address, and sign and date it.

If you don’t have a medical professional to help with this piece, you can use the services of Dr. Handicap. We can connect you to a licensed physician in your state who can evaluate you and assist with the medical certification. The best part is that it’s all done virtually, so you don’t have to ever leave your home!

Step 3: Complete and mail the application.

Your next step in getting your disabled parking permit in Oklahoma is to complete the rest of the application. You’ll need to provide some personal info, such as your date of birth, address, and driver’s license number. Then you must sign your name to authenticate the application (and be sure to have the medical certification portion completed and signed as well). Then you can mail the completed application to:

Department of Public Safety
Driver Compliance Div. – Disability Parking Permits
PO Box 11415
Oklahoma City, OK 73136-0415

It should take around 20 business days for your placard to be processed and mailed to you. If you’d like to receive it immediately, you can go in person to submit your completed application at the Disability Parking Permit desk at Building 1 of the Department of Public Safety at:

3600 Martin Luther King Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73136-0415

If you have any questions about the application process, you can check their website or call (405) 425-2693.

Step 4: Use your placard appropriately.

In order to make sure you’re using your permit the right way, you’ll need to remember some important rules. Always display the placard on the rearview mirror when parked (and take it off when the vehicle is in motion) and only use the placard for your own use, whether you’re the driver or the passenger in the car. Never lend your placard out, even to friends and family. If you misuse your placard in this way, you could be found guilty of a misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine of $500.

You’ll also need to remember to keep your placard up to date, which means you should go through the renewal process (including getting recertified by a doctor) every five years if you have a permanent placard. To find out about other disabled driving regulations in your area, contact your local law enforcement for any inquiries.

Make your life a little easier by applying for a disabled parking permit today. You’ll then have access to closer, more convenient disabled parking in Oklahoma, so you can save up your energy for other more important tasks.

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