Parking Permits for Disabled Persons

NEW LEGISLATION CALLS FOR DOCUMENTATION WHEN RENEWING 

If you have a blue permanent disabled parking permit, you need to be aware of the new requirements put in place by Florida lawmakers. The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles will implement the new law.

Effective Oct. 1, 2012 any person issued a blue permanent disabled parking permit must renew the permit every four years and, when doing so, provide a certificate of disability completed and signed by a certifying authority within the last 12 months. That means every blue disabled parking permit holder will, at least every four years and within 12 months of the date of their renewal, fill out Form HSMV 83039. Permit holders will not have to pay a renewal fee.

In addition, effective July 1, 2012 if your blue permanent disabled parking permit is lost or stolen, a replacement will only be issued if you submit the same documentation required for renewals. The new law does not affect red temporary disabled parking permits, nor people who have disabled (wheelchair) license plates.
 
 
The legislation also directs DHSMV to collect calls reporting abuse of the permits. Calls should be placed to the DHSMV Customer Service Center at (850) 617-3803.
 
More than 1.3 million Floridians currently have permanent blue disabled parking permits. The permanent permit is blue; the temporary permit is red.
 
The blue disabled parking permit with a current sticker must be visible from the front and rear of a motor vehicle. One side of the permit must display the applicant’s driver license number or state identification card number along with a warning the applicant must have such identification at all times while using the parking permit.
 
Illegally obtaining or using a permit can result in the loss of the parking permit and carries the potential for criminal penalties as outlined in Florida Statute 320.0848.

Disabled Person Parking PermitA placard can be purchased by an individual with disabilities that limit or impair their ability to walk or is certified legally blind. The parking permit entitles the driver transporting the disabled passenger to utilize handicap parking facilities. The placard is transferable to any vehicle transporting the disabled person. The placard is to be hung on the rear view mirror when using the designated parking spaces. Applicants and their physician are required to sign for the permit HSMV 83039. There is no fee for a four year disabled person parking permit.

A temporary disabled parking permit is also available. The temporary permit is issued for the time period specified by the certifying authority, not to exceed six (6) months. Fee is $15.00 regardless of the number of days for which it is issued. If the person is still disabled when the temporary parking permit expires, a new application with certification is required.

Miscellaneous Information:

The applicant for a disabled person parking permit MUST have a valid Florida driver license or Florida identification card (unless an exception is indicated by the physician).

An additional permit may be issued to a disabled person who qualifies as a frequent traveler or as a quadriplegic. (Not allowed for temporary parking permits)

An organization can be issued as many disabled person parking permits as it has vehicles that are used to transport disabled persons.

Permits issued to disabled persons will expire in four years on the applicant's birthday. Permits issued to an organization will expire in four years on June 30.

In order for a disabled person to be allowed to use a handicapped space, they must park and exit the vehicle. Therefore, if the disabled person remains in the vehicle while their driver or passenger exits the vehicle, they are in violation of the law.

The permit must be hung on the rear view mirror of any vehicle used to transport the disabled person(s) while parked in a designated disabled person parking space. The permit number must be visible from the front of the vehicle.