| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to accessible parking spaces; amending s. |
| 3 | 553.5041, F.S.; providing for reservation of accessible |
| 4 | parking spaces for persons who require extra space to exit |
| 5 | from or enter a motor vehicle; requiring signage; |
| 6 | requiring specific markings; providing a penalty; |
| 7 | providing an effective date. |
| 8 |
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| 9 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 10 |
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| 11 | Section 1. Subsection (7) is added to section 553.5041, |
| 12 | Florida Statutes, to read: |
| 13 | 553.5041 Parking spaces for persons who have |
| 14 | disabilities.-- |
| 15 | (7)(a)1. If a facility has five or more accessible parking |
| 16 | spaces pursuant to this section, at least 20 percent of such |
| 17 | parking spaces must be reserved for the temporary exclusive use |
| 18 | of persons who have disabled parking permits, who occupy a van |
| 19 | or other vehicle having an attached device to load or unload a |
| 20 | wheelchair, and who require extra space to deploy the mobility |
| 21 | device, lift, ramp, or other device to exit from or enter such |
| 22 | vehicle. |
| 23 | 2. In addition to any other signage requirements under |
| 24 | this section or ADAAG s. 4.30, such spaces must be posted with a |
| 25 | yellow sign that bears a wheelchair emblem and words stating |
| 26 | "RESERVED FOR VANS OR VEHICLES WITH ATTACHED WHEELCHAIR DEVICES |
| 27 | ONLY" and stating the penalty for illegal use of the space. |
| 28 | 3. The spaces must be marked to allow for entry and exit |
| 29 | from the passenger side of the vehicles. |
| 30 | (b) A person without a disabled parking permit who parks |
| 31 | in a space in violation of paragraph (a) is subject to a fine of |
| 32 | $250. |
| 33 | Section 2. This act shall take effect October 1, 2007. |