Senate Bill 1498e2
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  1                      A bill to be entitled
  2         An act relating to the use of motor vehicles by
  3         persons who have disabilities; amending s.
  4         316.1955, F.S.; clarifying standards for
  5         accessible parking spaces and parking access
  6         aisles; providing violations; providing
  7         penalties; amending s. 316.1958, F.S.;
  8         providing that a special motor vehicle license
  9         plate or parking permit issued by another
10         state, district, or country is invalid with
11         respect to a person who must have a Florida
12         vehicle registration; amending s. 316.1964,
13         F.S.; amending circumstances in which vehicles
14         are exempt from paying parking fees and
15         penalties; amending s. 318.18, F.S.; increasing
16         the amount of the fine for illegally parking in
17         a parking space for disabled persons; amending
18         procedures for dismissing such fines and for
19         distributing the proceeds of such fines;
20         amending s. 320.0842, F.S.; amending
21         prerequisites to qualifying for a free license
22         plate as a veteran who uses a wheelchair due to
23         a service-connected disability; amending s.
24         320.0843, F.S.; amending provisions related to
25         license plates for wheelchair users; amending
26         s. 320.0848, F.S.; amending provisions relating
27         to the issuance of disabled parking permits;
28         amending prerequisites; providing for
29         replacement permits; providing for
30         alternatives; amending requirements for the
31         design of temporary permits; providing
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  1         penalties for unlawfully displaying a disabled
  2         parking permit; providing additional grounds
  3         for confiscation of a disabled parking permit;
  4         providing for recordkeeping related to
  5         confiscation; providing for revoking the
  6         privilege of applying for a disabled parking
  7         permit; providing procedures related to
  8         confiscations and revocations; providing an
  9         effective date.
10
11  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
12
13         Section 1.  Subsections (4), (5), (6), and (7) of
14  section 316.1955, Florida Statutes, are amended, present
15  subsections (8) and (9) of that section are renumbered as
16  subsections (9) and (10), respectively, and a new subsection
17  (8) is added to that section, to read:
18         316.1955  Parking spaces for persons who have
19  disabilities.--
20         (4)  The number of accessible parking spaces must
21  comply with the parking requirements in ADAAG s. 4.1 and the
22  following:
23         (a)  There must be one accessible parking space in the
24  immediate vicinity of a publicly owned or leased building that
25  houses a governmental entity or a political subdivision,
26  including, but not limited to, state office buildings and
27  courthouses, if no parking for the public is provided on the
28  premises of the building.;
29         (b)  There must be one accessible parking space for
30  each 150 metered onstreet parking spaces provided by state
31  agencies and political subdivisions.;
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  1         (c)  The number of parking spaces for persons who have
  2  disabilities must be increased on the basis of demonstrated
  3  and documented need.
  4         (5)  Accessible perpendicular and diagonal accessible
  5  parking spaces and loading zones must be designed and located
  6  in conformance with the guidelines set forth in ADAAG ss.
  7  4.1.2 and 4.6 and Appendix s. A4.6.3 "Universal Parking
  8  Design."
  9         (a)  All spaces must be located on an accessible route
10  no less than 44 inches wide so that users will not be
11  compelled to walk or wheel behind parked vehicles.
12         (b)  Each space must be located on the shortest safely
13  accessible route from the parking space to an accessible
14  entrance. If there are multiple entrances or multiple retail
15  stores, the parking spaces must be dispersed to provide
16  parking at the nearest accessible entrance.  If a theme park
17  or an entertainment complex as defined in s. 509.013(9)
18  provides parking in several lots or areas from which access to
19  the theme park or entertainment complex is provided, a single
20  lot or area may be designated for parking by persons who have
21  disabilities, if the lot or area is located on the shortest
22  safely accessible route to an accessible entrance to the theme
23  park or entertainment complex or to transportation to such an
24  accessible entrance.
25         (c)1.  Each parking space must be no less than 12 feet
26  wide.  Parking access aisles must be no less than 5 feet wide
27  and must be part of an accessible route to the building or
28  facility entrance. In accordance with ADAAG 4.6.3, access
29  aisles must be placed adjacent to accessible parking spaces;
30  however, The parking access aisles are reserved for the use of
31  persons who have disabled parking permits, and violators are
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  1  subject to the same penalties that are imposed for illegally
  2  parking in parking spaces that are designated for persons who
  3  have disabilities. two accessible parking spaces may share a
  4  common access aisle. The access aisle must be striped
  5  diagonally to designate it as a no-parking zone.
  6         2.  The parking access aisles are reserved for the
  7  temporary exclusive use of persons who have disabled parking
  8  permits and who require extra space to deploy a mobility
  9  device, lift, or ramp in order to exit from or enter a
10  vehicle. Parking is not allowed in an access aisle. Violators
11  are subject to the same penalties that are imposed for
12  illegally parking in parking spaces that are designated for
13  persons who have disabilities. A vehicle may not be parked in
14  an access aisle, even if the vehicle owner or passenger is
15  disabled or owns a disabled parking permit.
16         3.  Any provision of this subsection to the contrary
17  notwithstanding, a theme park or an entertainment complex as
18  defined in s. 509.013(9) in which are provided continuous
19  attendant services for directing individuals to marked
20  accessible parking spaces or designated lots for parking by
21  persons who have disabilities, may, in lieu of the required
22  parking space design, provide parking spaces that comply with
23  ss. 4.1 and 4.6 of the Americans with Disabilities Act
24  Accessibility Guidelines.
25         (d)  On-street parallel parking spaces must be located
26  either at the beginning or end of a block or adjacent to alley
27  entrances. Such spaces must be designed in conformance with
28  the guidelines set forth in ADAAG ss. 4.6.2 through 4.6.5.
29  exception:  access aisles are not required. Curbs adjacent to
30  such spaces must be of a height that will not interfere with
31  the opening and closing of motor vehicle doors. This
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  1  subsection does not relieve the owner of the responsibility to
  2  comply with the parking requirements of ADAAG ss. 4.1 and 4.6.
  3         (e)  Parallel parking spaces must be even with surface
  4  slopes, may match the grade of the adjacent travel lane, and
  5  must not exceed a cross slope of 1 to 50, where feasible.
  6         (f)  Curb ramps must be located outside of the disabled
  7  parking spaces and access aisles.
  8         (g)1.  The removal of architectural barriers from a
  9  parking facility in accordance with 28 C.F.R. s. 36.304 or
10  with s. 553.508 must comply with this section unless
11  compliance would cause the barrier removal not to be readily
12  achievable.  If compliance would cause the barrier removal not
13  to be readily achievable, a facility may provide parking
14  spaces at alternative locations for persons who have
15  disabilities and provide appropriate signage directing persons
16  who have disabilities to the alternative parking if readily
17  achievable.  The facility may not reduce the required number
18  or dimensions of those spaces, nor may it unreasonably
19  increase the length of the accessible route from a parking
20  space to the facility.  The removal of an architectural
21  barrier must not create a significant risk to the health or
22  safety of a person who has a disability or to that of others.
23         2.  A facility that is making alterations under s.
24  553.507(2)(b) must comply with this section to the maximum
25  extent feasible.  If compliance with parking location
26  requirements is not feasible, the facility may provide parking
27  spaces at alternative locations for persons who have
28  disabilities and provide appropriate signage directing persons
29  who have a disability to alternative parking.  The facility
30  may not reduce the required number or dimensions of those
31  spaces, nor may it unnecessarily increase the length of the
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  1  accessible route from a parking space to the facility.  The
  2  alteration must not create a significant risk to the health or
  3  safety of a person who has a disability or to that of others.
  4         (6)  Each such parking space must be prominently
  5  outlined with blue paint, and must be repainted when
  6  necessary, to be clearly distinguishable as a parking space
  7  designated for persons who have disabilities and must be
  8  posted with a permanent above-grade sign of a color and design
  9  approved by the Department of Transportation, which is placed
10  on or at a distance of 84 inches above the ground to the
11  bottom of the sign and which bears bearing the international
12  symbol of accessibility meeting the requirements of ADAAG s.
13  4.30.7 and the caption "PARKING BY DISABLED PERMIT ONLY." Such
14  a sign erected after October 1, 1996, must indicate the
15  penalty for illegal use of the space. Any provision of this
16  section to the contrary notwithstanding, in a theme park or an
17  entertainment complex as defined in s. 509.013(9) in which
18  accessible parking is located in designated lots or areas, the
19  signage indicating the lot as reserved for accessible parking
20  may be located at the entrances to the lot in lieu of a sign
21  at each parking place. This subsection does not relieve the
22  owner of the responsibility of complying with the signage
23  requirements of ADAAG s. 4.30.
24         (7)  It is unlawful for any person to stop, stand, or
25  park a vehicle within, or to obstruct, any such specially
26  designated and marked parking space provided in accordance
27  with this section, unless the vehicle displays a disabled
28  parking permit issued under s. 316.1958 or s. 320.0848 or a
29  license plate issued under s. 320.084, s. 320.0842, s.
30  320.0843, or s. 320.0845, and the vehicle is transporting the
31  person to whom the displayed permit is issued. The violation
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  1  may not be dismissed for failure of the marking on the parking
  2  space to comply with this section if the space is in general
  3  compliance and is clearly distinguishable as a designated
  4  accessible parking space for people who have disabilities.
  5  Only a warning may be issued for unlawfully parking in a space
  6  designated for persons with disabilities if there is no
  7  above-grade sign as provided in subsection (6).
  8         (a)  Whenever a law enforcement officer, a parking
  9  enforcement specialist, or the owner or lessee of the space
10  finds a vehicle in violation of this subsection, that officer,
11  owner, or lessor shall have the vehicle in violation removed
12  to any lawful parking space or facility or require the
13  operator or other person in charge of the vehicle immediately
14  to remove the unauthorized vehicle from the parking space.
15  Whenever any vehicle is removed under this section to a
16  storage lot, garage, or other safe parking space, the cost of
17  the removal and parking constitutes a lien against the
18  vehicle.
19         (b)  The officer or specialist shall charge the
20  operator or other person in charge of the vehicle in violation
21  with a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as provided
22  in s. 316.008(4) or s. 318.18(6).
23         (c)  All convictions for violations of this section
24  must be reported to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor
25  Vehicles by the clerk of the court.
26         (d)  A law enforcement officer or a parking enforcement
27  specialist has the right to demand to be shown the person's
28  disabled parking permit and driver's license or state
29  identification card when investigating the possibility of a
30  violation of this section.  If such a request is refused, the
31  person in charge of the vehicle may be charged with resisting
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  1  an officer without violence, as provided in s. 843.02 may be
  2  issued a citation for a violation of this section.
  3         (8)  It is unlawful for any person to obstruct the path
  4  of travel to an accessible parking space, curb cut, or access
  5  aisle by standing or parking a vehicle within any such
  6  designated area. The violator is subject to the same penalties
  7  as are imposed for illegally parking in a space that is
  8  designated as an accessible parking space for persons who have
  9  disabilities.
10         Section 2.  Section 316.1958, Florida Statutes, is
11  amended to read:
12         316.1958  Out-of-state vehicles bearing identification
13  of issuance to persons who have disabilities.--Motor vehicles
14  displaying a special license plate or parking permit issued to
15  a person who has a disability by any other state or district
16  subject to the laws of the United States or by a foreign
17  country that issues disabled parking permits that display the
18  international symbol of accessibility are recognized as
19  displaying a valid license plate or permit, that allows such a
20  vehicle special parking privileges under s. 316.1955, if the
21  other state or district grants reciprocal recognition for
22  residents of this state who have disabilities. However, when
23  an individual is required by law to have a Florida driver's
24  license or a Florida vehicle registration, a special motor
25  vehicle license plate or parking permit issued by another
26  state, district, or country to persons who have disabilities
27  is not valid and the individual whose vehicle displays such an
28  invalid plate or permit is subject to the same penalty as an
29  individual whose vehicle does not display a valid plate or
30  permit.
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  1         Section 3.  Subsections (5) and (8) of section
  2  316.1964, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  3         316.1964  Exemption of vehicles transporting certain
  4  persons who have disabilities from payment of parking fees and
  5  penalties.--
  6         (5)  Notwithstanding subsection (1), when an on-street
  7  a parking meter restricts the duration of time that a vehicle
  8  may be parked, a vehicle properly displaying a disabled
  9  parking permit is allowed a  maximum of 4 hours at no charge;
10  however, local governments may extend such time by local
11  ordinance.
12         (8)  Notwithstanding subsection (1), a county,
13  municipality, or any agency thereof may charge for parking in
14  a facility or lot that provides timed parking spaces any space
15  a vehicle that displays a disabled parking permit, except that
16  any vehicle with specialized equipment, such as ramps, lifts,
17  or foot or hand controls, for use by a person who has a
18  disability, or any vehicle that is displaying the Florida Toll
19  Exemption permit, is exempt from any parking fees.
20         Section 4.  Subsection (6) of section 318.18, Florida
21  Statutes, is amended to read:
22         318.18  Amount of civil penalties.--The penalties
23  required for a noncriminal disposition pursuant to s. 318.14
24  are as follows:
25         (6)  Two hundred fifty One hundred dollars for
26  illegally parking, under s. 316.1955, in a parking space
27  provided for people who have disabilities. However, this fine
28  will be waived if a person provides to the law enforcement
29  agency that issued the citation for such a violation proof
30  disabled persons under s. 316.1955 or s. 316.1956 or provide
31  proof to the clerk of the circuit court that the person
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  1  committing the violation has a valid parking permit or license
  2  plate issued pursuant to s. 316.1958, s. 320.0842, s.
  3  320.0843, s. 320.0845, or s. 320.0848 or and a signed
  4  affidavit that the owner of the disabled parking permit or
  5  license plate was present at the time the violation occurred,
  6  and that such a parking permit or license plate was valid at
  7  the time the violation occurred. The law enforcement officer,
  8  upon determining that all required documentation has been
  9  submitted verifying that the required parking permit or
10  license plate was valid at the time of the violation, must
11  sign an affidavit of compliance. Upon provision of the
12  affidavit of compliance proof of such a valid parking permit
13  or license plate and payment of a $5 dismissal fee to the
14  clerk of the circuit court, the clerk shall dismiss the
15  citation.
16         Section 5.  Subsection (2) of section 320.0842, Florida
17  Statutes, is amended to read:
18         320.0842  Free motor vehicle license plates to veterans
19  who use wheelchairs.--
20         (2)  In order to be eligible for the motor vehicle
21  license plate described in subsection (1), a person must
22  comply with the following provisions:
23         (a)  The veteran must be eligible for the license plate
24  issued under s. 320.084 and must apply for the license plate
25  issued under this section in lieu of or in exchange for the
26  motor vehicle license number plate authorized by s. 320.084;
27  and
28         (b)  The veteran must offer, in addition to the proof
29  required by s. 320.084(1), proof that due to a
30  service-connected disability he or she permanently uses a
31  wheelchair or proof, in the form of an application that
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  1  conforms to the requirements set forth in s. 320.0848, that he
  2  or she qualifies for a disabled parking permit under that
  3  section. The license plate entitles the person to all
  4  privileges afforded by a parking permit issued under s.
  5  320.0848.
  6         Section 6.  Section 320.0843, Florida Statutes, is
  7  amended to read:
  8         320.0843  License plates for persons with disabilities
  9  eligible for permanent disabled parking permits wheelchair
10  users.--
11         (1)  Any owner or lessee of a motor vehicle who resides
12  in this state and qualifies for a disabled parking permit
13  under s. 320.0848(2) is permanently confined to a wheelchair,
14  upon application to the department accompanied by competent
15  and appropriate proof of disability, and upon payment of the
16  license tax for a motor vehicle registered under s. 320.08(2),
17  (3)(a), (b), (c), or (e), (4)(a) or (b), (6)(a), or (9)(c) or
18  (d), shall be issued a license plate as provided by s. 320.06
19  which, in lieu of the serial number prescribed by s. 320.06,
20  shall be stamped with the international wheelchair user symbol
21  after the serial number of the license plate.  The license
22  plate entitles the person to all privileges afforded by a
23  parking permit issued under s. 320.0848.
24         (2)  All applications for such license plates must
25  shall be made to the department.
26         Section 7.  Section 320.0848, Florida Statutes, is
27  amended to read:
28         320.0848  Persons who have disabilities; issuance of
29  disabled parking permits; temporary permits; permits for
30  certain providers of transportation services to persons who
31  have disabilities.--
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  1         (1)(a)  The Department of Highway Safety and Motor
  2  Vehicles or its authorized agents shall, upon application and
  3  receipt of the fee, issue a disabled parking permit for a
  4  period of up to 4 years, which period that ends on the
  5  applicant's birthday, to any person who has long-term mobility
  6  impairment problems, or a temporary disabled parking permit
  7  not to exceed 1 year to any person who has a temporary
  8  mobility impairment problems.
  9         (b)1.  The person must be currently certified by a
10  physician licensed under chapter 458, chapter 459, or chapter
11  460, or by a podiatrist licensed under chapter 461, by the
12  Division of Blind Services of the Department of Labor and
13  Employment Security, or by the Adjudication Office of the
14  United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its
15  predecessor as being legally blind or as having any of the
16  following disabilities that render him limit or impair his or
17  her unable ability to walk 200 feet without stopping to rest:
18         1.  Inability to walk 200 feet without stopping to
19  rest.
20         a.2.  Inability to walk without the use of or
21  assistance from a brace, cane, crutch, prosthetic device, or
22  other assistive device, or without the assistance of another
23  person.  If the assistive device significantly restores the
24  person's ability to walk to the extent that the person can
25  walk without severe limitation, the person is not eligible for
26  the exemption parking permit.
27         b.3.  The need to permanently use a wheelchair.
28         c.4.  Restriction by lung disease to the extent that
29  the person's forced (respiratory) expiratory volume for 1
30  second, when measured by spirometry, is less than 1 liter, or
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  1  the person's arterial oxygen is less than 60 mm/hg on room air
  2  at rest.
  3         d.5.  Use of portable oxygen.
  4         e.6.  Restriction by cardiac condition to the extent
  5  that the person's functional limitations are classified in
  6  severity as Class III or Class IV according to standards set
  7  by the American Heart Association.
  8         f.7.  Severe limitation in the person's ability to walk
  9  due to an arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition.
10         2.  The certification of disability which is required
11  under subparagraph 1. must be provided by a physician licensed
12  under chapter 458, chapter 459, or chapter 460, by a
13  podiatrist licensed under chapter 461, by an optometrist
14  licensed under chapter 463, by the Adjudication Office of the
15  United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its
16  predecessor, or by a similarly licensed physician from another
17  state if the application is accompanied by documentation of
18  the physician's licensure in the other state and a form signed
19  by the out-of-state physician verifying his or her knowledge
20  of this state's eligibility guidelines.
21         (c)(b)  The certificate of disability must include, but
22  need not be limited to:
23         1.  The disability of the applicant; the certifying
24  physician's name and address; the physician's certification
25  number; the eligibility criteria for the permit; the penalty
26  for falsification by either the certifying physician or the
27  applicant; the duration of the condition that entitles the
28  person to the permit; and justification for the additional
29  placard pursuant to subsection (2).
30
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  1         2.  The statement, in bold letters: "A disabled parking
  2  permit may be issued only for a medical necessity that
  3  severely affects mobility."
  4         3.  The signatures of:
  5         a.  The applicant's physician;
  6         b.  The applicant or the applicant's parent or
  7  guardian; and
  8         c.  The employee of the department's authorized agent
  9  which employee is processing the application.
10         (d)(c)  Beginning April 1, 1999, the Department of
11  Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall renew the disabled
12  parking permit of any person certified as permanently disabled
13  on the application who has a disability upon presentation of
14  the certification required by paragraph (b).
15         (e)(d)  The Department of Highway Safety and Motor
16  Vehicles shall, in consultation with the Commission for the
17  Transportation Disadvantaged, adopt rules, in accordance with
18  chapter 120, for the issuance of a disabled parking permit to
19  any organization that can adequately demonstrate a bona fide
20  need for such a permit because the organization provides
21  regular transportation services to persons who have
22  disabilities and are certified as provided in this subsection
23  paragraph (a).
24         (2)  DISABLED PARKING PERMIT; PERSONS WITH LONG-TERM
25  MOBILITY PROBLEMS.--
26         (a)  The disabled parking permit is a placard that can
27  be placed in a motor vehicle so as to be visible from the
28  front and rear of the vehicle. Each side of the placard must
29  have the international symbol of accessibility in a
30  contrasting color in the center so as to be visible. One side
31  of the placard must display the applicant's driver's license
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  1  number or state identification card number along with a
  2  warning that the applicant must have such identification at
  3  all times while using the parking permit. A validation sticker
  4  must also be issued with each disabled parking permit, showing
  5  the month and year of expiration on each side of the placard.
  6  Validation stickers must be of the size specified by the
  7  Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and must be
  8  affixed to the disabled parking permits. The disabled parking
  9  permits must use the same colors as license plate validations.
10         (b)  License plates issued under ss. 320.084, 320.0842,
11  320.0843, and 320.0845 are valid for the same parking
12  privileges and other privileges provided under ss. 316.1955,
13  316.1964, and 526.141(5)(a).
14         (c)1.  Except as provided in subparagraph 2., the fee
15  for a disabled parking permit shall be:
16         a.  Fifteen dollars for each initial 4-year permit or
17  renewal permit, of which the State Transportation Trust Fund
18  shall receive $13.50 and the tax collector of the county in
19  which the fee was collected shall receive $1.50.
20         b.  One dollar for each additional or additional
21  renewal 4-year permit, of which the State Transportation Trust
22  Fund shall receive all funds collected.
23
24  The department shall not issue an additional disabled parking
25  permit unless the applicant states that they are a frequent
26  traveler or a quadriplegic. The department may not issue to
27  any one eligible applicant more than two disabled parking
28  permits except to an organization in accordance with paragraph
29  (1)(d). Subsections (1), (5), (6), and (7) apply to this
30  subsection.
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  1         2.  If an applicant who is a disabled veteran, is a
  2  resident of this state, has been honorably discharged, and
  3  either has been determined by the Department of Defense or the
  4  United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its
  5  predecessor to have a service-connected disability rating for
  6  compensation of 50 percent or greater or has been determined
  7  to have a service-connected disability rating of 50 percent or
  8  greater and is in receipt of both disability retirement pay
  9  from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and has
10  a signed physician's statement of qualification for the
11  disabled parking permits, the fee for a disabled parking
12  permit shall be:
13         a.  One dollar and fifty cents for the initial 4-year
14  permit or renewal permit.
15         b.  One dollar for each additional or additional
16  renewal 4-year permit.
17
18  The tax collector of the county in which the fee was collected
19  shall retain all funds received pursuant to this subparagraph.
20         3.  If an applicant presents to the department a
21  statement from the Federal Government or the State of Florida
22  indicating the applicant is a recipient of supplemental
23  security income, the fee for the disabled parking permit shall
24  be $9 for the initial 4-year permit or renewal permit, of
25  which the State Transportation Trust Fund shall receive $6.75
26  and the tax collector of the county in which the fee was
27  collected shall receive $2.25.
28         (d)  To obtain a replacement for a disabled parking
29  permit that has been lost or stolen, a person must submit an
30  application on a form prescribed by the department and must
31  pay a replacement fee in the amount of $1.00, to be retained
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    CS for SB 1498                          Second Engrossed (ntc)
  1  by the issuing agency. If the person submits with the
  2  application a police report documenting that the permit was
  3  stolen, there is no replacement fee.
  4         (e)  A person who qualifies for a disabled parking
  5  permit under this section may be issued an international
  6  wheelchair user symbol license plate under s. 320.0843 in lieu
  7  of the disabled parking permit; or, if the person qualifies
  8  for a "DV" license plate under s. 320.084, such a license
  9  plate may be issued to him or her in lieu of a disabled
10  parking permit.
11         (3)  DISABLED PARKING PERMIT; TEMPORARY.--
12         (a)  The temporary disabled parking permit is a placard
13  of a different color from the color of the long-term disabled
14  parking permit placard, and must clearly display the date of
15  expiration in large print and with color coding, but is in all
16  other respects identical to the long-term disabled parking
17  permit placard in all other respects, including, but not
18  limited to, the inclusion of a state identification card
19  number or driver's license number on one side of the temporary
20  permit.  The temporary disabled parking permit placard must be
21  designed to conspicuously display the expiration date of the
22  permit on the front and back of the placard.
23         (b)  The department shall issue the temporary disabled
24  parking permit for the period of the disability as stated by
25  the certifying physician, but not to exceed 1 year.
26         (c)  The fee for a temporary disabled parking permit is
27  $15.
28         (4)  From the proceeds of the temporary disabled
29  parking permit fees:
30         (a)  The Department of Highway Safety and Motor
31  Vehicles must receive $3.50 for each temporary permit, to be
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    CS for SB 1498                          Second Engrossed (ntc)
  1  deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund and
  2  used for implementing the real-time disabled parking permit
  3  database and for administering the disabled parking permit
  4  program.
  5         (b)  The tax collector, for processing, must receive
  6  $2.50 for each temporary permit.
  7         (c)  The remainder must be distributed monthly as
  8  follows:
  9         1.  To the Florida Governor's Alliance for the
10  Employment of Disabled Citizens for the purpose of improving
11  employment and training opportunities for persons who have
12  disabilities, with special emphasis on removing transportation
13  barriers, $4.  These fees must be deposited into the
14  Transportation Disadvantaged Trust Fund for transfer to the
15  Florida Governor's Alliance for Employment of Disabled
16  Citizens.
17         2.  To the Transportation Disadvantaged Trust Fund to
18  be used for funding matching grants to counties for the
19  purpose of improving transportation of persons who have
20  disabilities, $5.
21         (5)  The applications for disabled parking permits and
22  temporary disabled parking permits are official state
23  documents. The following statement must appear on each
24  application form immediately below the physician's signature
25  and immediately below the applicant's signature:  "Knowingly
26  providing false information on this application is a
27  misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s.
28  775.082, Florida Statutes, or s. 775.083, Florida Statutes.
29  The penalty is up to 1 year in jail or a fine of $1,000, or
30  both."
31
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  1         (6)  Any person who knowingly makes a false or
  2  misleading statement in an application or certification under
  3  this section commits a misdemeanor of the first degree,
  4  punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
  5         (7)  Any person who fraudulently obtains or unlawfully
  6  displays a disabled parking permit that belongs to another
  7  person while occupying a disabled parking space or an access
  8  aisle as defined in s. 316.1955 while the owner of the permit
  9  is not being transported in the vehicle uses such a disabled
10  parking permit or who uses an unauthorized replica of such a
11  disabled parking permit with the intent to deceive is guilty
12  of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided
13  in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
14         (8)  A law enforcement officer may confiscate the
15  disabled parking permit from any person who fraudulently
16  obtains or unlawfully and uses such a permit.  A law
17  enforcement officer may confiscate any disabled parking permit
18  that is expired, reported as lost or stolen, or defaced, or
19  that does not display a personal identification number.
20         (a)  Beginning April 1, 1999, the permit number of each
21  confiscated permit must be submitted to the Department of
22  Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, and the fact that the
23  permit has been confiscated must be noted on the
24  permitholder's record. If two permits issued to the same
25  person have been confiscated, the Department of Highway Safety
26  and Motor Vehicles shall refer the information to the Florida
27  Abuse Hotline for an investigation of potential abuse,
28  neglect, or exploitation of the permit owner.
29         (b)  A confiscated permit must be held as evidence
30  until a judicial decision about the violation has been made.
31  After a finding of guilt has been made or a plea of nolo
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    CS for SB 1498                          Second Engrossed (ntc)
  1  contendere has been entered, the charging agency shall destroy
  2  the confiscated permit. A confiscated permit may not, under
  3  any circumstances, be returned to its registered owner after a
  4  finding of guilt has been made or a plea of nolo contendere
  5  has been entered in court. The permit number of each destroyed
  6  permit must be reported to the department, and the department
  7  must record in the real-time disabled parking permit database
  8  that the permit has been invalidated.
  9         Section 8.  Except as otherwise expressly provided in
10  this act, this act shall take effect July 1, 1998.
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