A Guide To Disabled Parking In Wisconsin
When you have issues with mobility, it can be challenging to get around when you leave your home. Knowing that you’ll have to walk long distances just to get from the parking lot to your destination can be discouraging. Luckily, with a handicap placard in hand, you can take advantage of plenty of disabled parking in Wisconsin. The other good news is that applying for a disabled parking permit in Wisconsin is actually a fairly easy process. For more information on how to get access to closer and more convenient parking places, read on!
Check out the “Are you eligible?” section of the application
Your first stop should be the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) website. The first important section you’ll come across is the “Are you eligible?” one, which allows you to determine which physical conditions are deemed disabilities by the state of Wisconsin. If any of these apply to you, you’ll be eligible for a Wisconsin handicap parking permit:
- Cannot walk 200 feet or more without stopping to rest
- Cannot walk without the use of, or assistance from, another person or brace, cane, crutch, prosthetic device, wheelchair or other assistance device
- Are restricted by lung disease to the extent that forced 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
- Use portable oxygen
- Have a cardiac condition to the extent that functional limitations are classified in severity as class III or IV, according to standards accepted by the American Heart Association
- Are severely limited in the ability to walk due to an arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition
If one of these applies to you but only as a temporary disability, you are still eligible to apply for a temporary permit (these are only valid for up to six months).
Image by Goodfreephotos_com on Pixabay: Appreciate the beautiful scenery while you’re on the road with your Wisconsin disabled parking permit.
Get a medical certification
If you’ve determined that your medical condition qualifies you for a permit, your next step should be to get evaluated by a medical professional. This evaluation can be done by one of the following licensed individuals:
- Physician
- Podiatrist
- Advanced practice nurse
- Chiropractor
- Public health nurse
- Physician assistant
- Christian Science Practitioner (residing in Wisconsin)
If you do not have a medical professional who can assist you, head to Dr. Handicap, where you can get connected virtually with one to help complete your application. Your application (which can be found here) includes a section where your health care professional will need to provide their info and license number, and sign and date the form.
Finish filling out your application
The rest of the application will need to be completed by you – it’s pretty easy, since you just have to include info like your address and date of birth. Don’t forget to sign your form, though! WisDOT also recommends that you make and keep a copy of your completed application before you send it in. You must be able to provide a copy of it if any traffic officer ever asks for it. The best part is that there’s no fee for a Wisconsin disabled parking permit (or replacement permits)! When you’re all set, you can submit your application by mailing it into:
WisDOT
Special Plates Unit – DIS ID
PO Box 7306
Madison, WI 53707-7306
Make sure you’re using your placard correctly
Once you’ve received your Wisconsin handicap parking permit, it’s critical that you’re always using it appropriately. Your permit must always be valid, so you’ll need to renew it every four years (the process is the same.) You can use your permit if you’re a driver or just a passenger, but the permit must be hung from the car’s interior rearview mirror whenever it’s in a handicap parking space. Make sure to remove the placard when your car is in motion (you could face a fine of up to $100 if you’re caught driving with your placard hanging up).
You also have the benefit of:
- Parking in spaces marked by official traffic signs reserving the space for vehicles with a handicap permit
- Being exempt from any parking ordinance imposing time limits of one-half hour or more
- Parking at municipally owned/leased lots without payment in metered spaces when the time limit is one-half hour or more (payment may be required for privately-owned parking lots or those with an attendant)
- Obtaining fuel from a full-service pump at the same prices as fuel from a self-service pump
Be aware, though, that if you sell or lend your permit to anyone, you could be fined up to $300 and/or have your permit confiscated, so your placard should always stay in your possession only. Even friends and family can’t borrow your placard for any reason! Make sure you’re following all the most recent traffic and disabled parking laws, and you’ll be free to use your placard anytime.
Image by Goodfreephotos_com on Pixabay: You’ll find tons of convenient parking places with your Wisconsin handicap parking permit.
For any other questions about the application process, call (608) 264-7169 or email special-plates.dmv@dot.wi.gov. Hopefully, this rundown answers all of the basic questions you might have on how to get a disabled parking permit in Wisconsin. Don’t wait to get access to more convenient parking – apply for your Wisconsin disabled parking permit right away!