A Guide To Disabled Parking In West Virginia
“Country roads take me home, to the place I belong… West Virginia!” So the song goes. But what John Denver neglects to mention is what the disabled parking program will be like when we get to the Mountain State. Sure, it’s almost heaven: home to the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah River – but what’s the situation for disabled parking in West Virginia?
Well, fortunately, the West Virginia disabled parking program is well-run, efficient, and easy to negotiate, and disabled parking facilities are ubiquitous and of high quality. Here is everything you need to know about how to get a disabled parking permit in West Virginia.
What Are The Qualifying Conditions For Disabled Parking In West Virginia?
In order to qualify for disabled parking in West Virginia, a patient must be disabled in one of the following ways:
- They cannot walk 200 feet without having to stop to rest.
- They cannot walk without the assistance of another person, brace, cane, crutch, prosthetic device, wheelchair, or other assisted device.
- They are restricted by 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 60mm/hg on room air at rest.
- They use portable oxygen.
- They have a heart condition classified as IV by The American Heart Association.
- They are severely limited in their ability to walk due to arthritis, or a neurological or orthopedic condition.
What Type Of Medical Professional Can Write A Letter For Disabled Parking In West Virginia?
The types of medical professionals that can verify an applicant for disabled parking in West Virginia are a licensed physician, chiropractor, physician’s assistant, or advanced nurse practitioner.
Image by DarkoStojanovic on Pixabay: Several types of medical professionals can write a West Virginia disabled parking letter.
How Do You Get A Medical Certificate For Disabled Parking In West Virginia?
The best way to get a medical certificate for disabled parking in West Virginia signed by a licensed physician is to go to Dr. Handicap and set up an online consultation. This means you can get your disability verified without having to leave your home.
How To Apply For A West Virginia Disabled Parking Permit
To apply for a disabled parking permit in West Virginia, you need to complete an application form and submit it in-person to any DMV regional office or mail it to:
Mobility Impaired Placards and Plates
PO Box 17010
Charleston
WV 25317
Do You Need To Renew A Disabled Parking Permit In West Virginia?
A permanent West Virginia handicap parking permit needs to be renewed every five years. Notice of an impending renewal date is sent to the permit holder’s address by mail. To apply for a renewed placard, a new application form must be completed and submitted to any DMV regional office or posted to the address above. A West Virginia disabled license plate must be renewed every year or every other year. For permit renewal, a medical professional’s recertification is not required.
How To Replace A Stolen, Damaged, Or Lost West Virginia Disabled Parking Permit
To replace a stolen, lost, or damaged permit, a new application form must be submitted along with a fee of $5. A medical professional’s recertification is not required.
How To Use Your West Virginia Handicap Parking Permit
When using a disabled parking permit in West Virginia, the permit needs to be clearly displayed hanging from the rearview mirror or on the dashboard when the vehicle is parked. When the vehicle is driving, the permit must be safely stowed.
West Virginia disabled parking permit holders are entitled to park in any mobility-impaired parking space in the state.
Image by 7thwvi on Pixabay: Apply for a West Virginia handicap parking permit today.
Are Out-Of-State Permits Valid For Disabled Parking In West Virginia?
In order to qualify for a West Virginia disabled parking permit of any kind, a person must be fully resident in the state of West Virginia.
Drivers who hold a disabled parking permit from any other state are entitled to the same disabled parking privileges in West Virginia as a local disabled parking permit holder.
How Does A West Virginia Disabled Parking Permit Work With Residential Permits?
A West Virginia handicap parking permit does not entitle its holder to park in a resident’s bay parking space reserved by another person, although a permit holder can request that a disabled-friendly space be provided in their building’s parking lot or near their home for convenience.