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HB-5644, As Passed House, May 12, 2026
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SUBSTITUTE FOR
HOUSE BILL NO. 5644
A bill to amend 1949 PA 300, entitled
"Michigan vehicle code,"
by amending sections 19a, 675, 803d, and 803h (MCL 257.19a,
257.675, 257.803d, and 257.803h), section 19a as amended by 2002 PA
618, section 675 as amended by 2018 PA 179, and sections 803d and
803h as amended by 2018 PA 62.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 19a. "Disabled person" or "person with disabilities" 1
means a person an individual who is determined by a physician, a 2
physician assistant, a certified nurse practitioner, a physical 3
therapist, an occupational therapist, or an optometrist as 4
specifically provided in this section licensed to practice in this 5
state to have 1 or more of the following physical characteristics: 6
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(a) Blindness. as determined by an optometrist, a physician, 1
or a physician assistant. 2
(b) Inability to walk more than 200 feet without having to 3
stop and rest. 4
(c) Inability to do both of the following: 5
(i) Use 1 or both legs or feet. 6
(ii) Walk without the use of a wheelchair, walker, crutch, 7
brace, prosthetic, or other device, or without the assistance of 8
another person.individual. 9
(d) A lung disease from which the person's individual's forced 10
expiratory volume for 1 second, when measured by spirometry, is 11
less than 1 liter, or from which the person's individual's arterial 12
oxygen tension is less than 60 mm/hg of room air at rest. 13
(e) A cardiovascular condition that causes the person 14
individual to measure between 3 and 4 on the New York heart Heart 15
Association functional classification scale, or that renders the 16
person individual incapable of meeting a minimum standard for 17
cardiovascular health that is established by the American heart 18
association Heart Association and approved by the department of 19
public health and human services. 20
(f) An arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition that 21
severely limits the person's individual's ability to walk. 22
(g) The persistent reliance upon on an oxygen source other 23
than ordinary air. 24
Sec. 675. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section and 25
this chapter, a vehicle stopped or parked upon on a highway or 26
street shall must be stopped or parked with the wheels of the 27
vehicle parallel to the roadway and within 12 inches of any curb 28
existing at the right of the vehicle. 29
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(2) A local authority may by ordinance permit parking of a 1
vehicle on a 1-way roadway with the vehicle's left wheels adjacent 2
to and within 12 inches of any curb existing at the left of the 3
vehicle. 4
(3) A local authority may by ordinance permit angle parking on 5
a roadway, except that angle parking is not permitted on a state 6
trunk line highway unless authorized by the state transportation 7
department. 8
(4) The state transportation commission with respect to state 9
trunk line highways and a board of county road commissioners with 10
respect to county roads, acting jointly with the director of the 11
department of state police, may place signs prohibiting or 12
restricting the stopping, standing, or parking of vehicles on a 13
highway where, in the opinion of the officials as determined by an 14
engineering survey, the stopping, standing, or parking is dangerous 15
to those using the highway or where the stopping, standing, or 16
parking of vehicles would unduly interfere with the free movement 17
of traffic on the highway or street. The signs shall must be 18
official signs and a person an individual shall not stop, stand, or 19
park a vehicle in violation of the restrictions stated on the 20
signs. The signs shall must be installed only after a proper 21
traffic order is filed with the county clerk. Upon On the 22
application to the state transportation commission by a home rule 23
city affected by an order, opportunity shall must be given to the 24
city for a hearing before the state transportation commission, 25
under the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 26
24.201 to 24.328, except when if an ordinance of the home rule city 27
prohibits or restricts the parking of vehicles on a state trunk 28
line highway; when if the home rule city, by lawfully authorized 29
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official action, requests the state transportation department to 1
prohibit or restrict parking on a state trunk line highway; or when 2
if the home rule city enters into a construction agreement with the 3
state transportation department providing for the prohibition or 4
restriction of parking on a state trunk line highway during or 5
after the period of construction. Traffic control orders , so long 6
as they that affect parking upon a state trunk line highway within 7
the corporate limits of a home rule city , are considered "rules" 8
within the meaning of the administrative procedures act of 1969, 9
1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328, and upon on application for a 10
hearing by a home rule city, the proceedings before the state 11
transportation commission shall be are considered a "contested 12
case" within the meaning of that act. 13
(5) A disabled person may apply, on a form prescribed by the 14
secretary of state, for a serially numbered nontransferable 15
temporary or permanent windshield placard for the personal use of 16
the disabled person. Except as otherwise provided in this 17
subsection, the application must include a medical statement 18
attesting to the disability signed by a medical professional as 19
described in section 19a. An individual who has a religious 20
objection to having a medical examination may personally apply at a 21
branch office of the secretary of state for a serially numbered 22
nontransferable temporary or permanent windshield placard for the 23
personal use of the disabled individual. If it appears obvious that 24
the individual has a qualifying disability, the individual is not 25
required to present a medical statement attesting to the 26
disability. The application for and the issuance of the serially 27
numbered nontransferable temporary or permanent windshield placard 28
is subject to all of the following: 29
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(a) The secretary of state may issue to a disabled person with 1
a temporary disability a temporary windshield placard that is valid 2
for a period of not more than 6 months. 3
(b) The secretary of state may issue to a disabled person with 4
a permanent disability an original or renewal permanent windshield 5
placard that is valid for a period of not more than 4 years. 6
(c) An original or permanent windshield placard expires on the 7
disabled person's fifth birthday after the date of issuance. 8
(d) A renewal permanent windshield placard expires on the 9
disabled person's fourth birthday after the date of renewal. 10
(e) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, not more 11
than 45 days immediately preceding the expiration of his or her the 12
person's certificate or placard, a person holding a permanent 13
windshield placard may apply for a new or renewal placard as 14
provided in this section. However, if the person will be out of 15
state during the 45 days immediately preceding expiration of the 16
placard or for other good cause shown cannot apply for a placard 17
within the 45-day period, the person may apply for a new or renewal 18
placard not more than 6 months before the placard expires. A 19
placard issued or renewed under this subdivision expires as 20
provided in this subsection. 21
(f) Upon On application in the manner prescribed by the 22
secretary of state for replacement of a lost, stolen, or destroyed 23
placard described in this section, a disabled person or 24
organization that provides specialized services to disabled persons 25
may be issued a placard that in substance duplicates the original 26
certificate or placard for a fee of $10.00. 27
(g) A placard described in this section may be used by a 28
person other than the disabled person for the sole purpose of 29
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transporting the disabled person. An organization that provides 1
specialized services to disabled persons may apply for and receive 2
a permanent windshield placard to be used in any motor vehicle 3
actually transporting a disabled person. If the organization ceases 4
to transport disabled persons, the placard shall must be returned 5
to the secretary of state for cancellation and destruction. 6
(h) The secretary of state shall not issue a permanent placard 7
to an individual under this section unless that individual has 8
provided proof of Michigan residency. 9
(6) A disabled person with a certificate of identification, 10
windshield placard, special registration plates issued under 11
section 803d, a special registration plate issued under section 12
803f that has a tab for persons with disabilities attached, a 13
certificate of identification or windshield placard from another 14
state, or special registration plates from another state issued for 15
persons with disabilities is entitled to courtesy in the parking of 16
a vehicle. The courtesy shall relieve relieves the disabled person 17
or the person transporting the disabled person from liability for a 18
violation with respect to parking, other than in violation of this 19
act. A local authority may by ordinance prohibit parking on a 20
street or highway to create a fire lane or to provide for the 21
accommodation of heavy traffic during morning and afternoon rush 22
hours, and the privileges extending to veterans and physically 23
disabled persons under this subsection do not supersede that 24
ordinance. 25
(7) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (20), an 26
application for an initial free parking sticker shall must contain 27
a certification by a physician, physician assistant, certified 28
nurse practitioner, or physical therapist, or occupational 29
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therapist licensed to practice in this state attesting to the 1
nature and estimated duration of the applicant's disabling 2
condition and verifying that the applicant qualifies for a free 3
parking sticker. An individual who has a religious objection to 4
having a medical examination may personally apply at a branch 5
office of the secretary of state for an initial free parking 6
sticker. If it appears obvious that the individual is unable to do 7
1 or more of the acts listed in subdivisions (a) to (d), the 8
individual is not required to present a certification by a 9
physician, a physician assistant, a certified nurse practitioner, 10
or a physical therapist, or an occupational therapist attesting to 11
the nature and estimated duration of the applicant's disabling 12
condition or verifying that the applicant qualifies for a free 13
parking sticker. The applicant qualifies for a free parking sticker 14
if the applicant is a licensed driver and the physician, physician 15
assistant, certified nurse practitioner, or physical therapist, or 16
occupational therapist certifies or, if an individual is not 17
required to have a certification by a physician, a physician 18
assistant, a certified nurse practitioner, or a physical therapist, 19
or an occupational therapist, it is obvious that the applicant is 20
unable to do 1 or more of the following: 21
(a) Manage, manipulate, or insert coins, or obtain tickets or 22
tokens in parking meters or ticket machines in parking lots or 23
parking structures, due to the lack of fine motor control of both 24
hands. 25
(b) Reach above his or her the applicant's head to a height of 26
42 inches from the ground, due to a lack of finger, hand, or upper 27
extremity strength or mobility. 28
(c) Approach a parking meter due to his or her the applicant's 29
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use of a wheelchair or other device. 1
(d) Walk more than 20 feet due to an orthopedic, neurological, 2
cardiovascular, or lung condition in which the degree of 3
debilitation is so severe that it almost completely impedes the 4
ability to walk. 5
(8) To be entitled to free parking in a metered space or in a 6
publicly owned parking structure or area, a vehicle must properly 7
display 1 of the following: 8
(a) A windshield placard bearing a free parking sticker issued 9
under this act. 10
(b) A valid windshield placard issued by another state. 11
(c) A certificate of identification issued by another state. 12
(d) A license plate for persons with disabilities issued by 13
another state. 14
(e) A special registration plate with a tab for persons with 15
disabilities attached issued by another state. 16
(9) A vehicle that does not properly display 1 of the items 17
listed in subsection (8) is not entitled to free parking in a 18
metered parking space or in a publicly owned parking area or 19
structure, and the disabled person or vehicle operator shall pay 20
all parking fees and may be responsible for a civil infraction. 21
(10) Blindness that is not accompanied by an incapacity 22
described in subsection (7) does not entitle a person to a free 23
parking sticker. 24
(11) The secretary of state shall attach a free parking 25
sticker, in contrasting colors, to the windshield placard of a 26
person certified as having an incapacity described in subsection 27
(7). 28
(12) A windshield placard issued under this section shall must 29
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be displayed on the interior rearview mirror of the vehicle or, if 1
there is no interior rearview mirror, on the lower left corner of 2
the dashboard while the vehicle is parked or being parked by or 3
under the direction of a disabled person pursuant to this section. 4
(13) Upon On conviction of an offense involving a violation of 5
the special privileges conferred upon on a holder of a windshield 6
placard or free parking sticker, a magistrate or judge trying the 7
case, as a part of any penalty imposed, may confiscate the 8
windshield placard or free parking sticker and return the 9
confiscated item or items to the secretary of state together with a 10
certified copy of the sentence imposed. Upon On receipt of a 11
windshield placard or free parking sticker from a judge or 12
magistrate, the secretary of state shall cancel and destroy the 13
placard or sticker, and the disabled person to whom it was issued 14
shall not receive another placard or sticker until he or she the 15
disabled person submits a completed application and presents a 16
current medical statement attesting to his or her the disabled 17
person's condition. A law enforcement officer who observes a misuse 18
of a windshield placard or free parking sticker may immediately 19
confiscate the placard or sticker and forward it with a copy of his 20
or her the law enforcement officer's report to the secretary of 21
state. 22
(14) A person An individual who intentionally makes a false 23
statement of material fact or commits or attempts to commit a 24
deception or fraud on a medical statement attesting to a 25
disability, submitted in support of an application for a windshield 26
placard, free parking sticker, special registration plate, or tab 27
for persons with disabilities under this section, section 803d, or 28
section 803f, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of 29
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not more than $500.00 or imprisonment for not more than 30 days, or 1
both. 2
(15) A person who commits or attempts to commit a deception or 3
fraud by 1 or more of the following methods is guilty of a 4
misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $500.00 or 5
imprisonment for not more than 30 days, or both: 6
(a) Using a windshield placard or free parking sticker issued 7
under this section or by another state to provide transportation to 8
a disabled person, if the person is not providing transportation to 9
a disabled person. 10
(b) Altering, modifying, or selling a windshield placard or 11
free parking sticker issued under this section or by another state. 12
(c) Copying or forging a windshield placard or free parking 13
sticker described in this section or selling a copied or forged 14
placard or sticker described in this section. In the case of a 15
violation of this subdivision, the fine described in this 16
subsection shall must be not less than $250.00. 17
(d) Using a copied or forged windshield placard or free 18
parking sticker described in this section. 19
(e) Making a false statement of material fact to obtain or 20
assist an individual in obtaining a placard or sticker described in 21
this section, a special registration plate under section 803d, or a 22
tab for persons with disabilities under section 803f. 23
(f) Knowingly using or displaying a placard or sticker 24
described in this section that has been canceled by the secretary 25
of state. 26
(16) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person 27
who violates this section is responsible for a civil infraction. 28
(17) The secretary of state may cancel, revoke, or suspend a 29
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windshield placard or free parking sticker under any of the 1
following circumstances: 2
(a) The secretary of state determines that a windshield 3
placard or free parking sticker was fraudulently or erroneously 4
issued. 5
(b) The secretary of state determines that a person an 6
individual has made or is making an unlawful use of his or her the 7
individual's windshield placard or free parking sticker. 8
(c) The secretary of state determines that a check or draft 9
used to pay the required fee is not paid on its first presentation 10
and is not paid upon on reasonable notice or demand or that the 11
required fee is paid by an invalid credit card. 12
(d) The secretary of state determines that the person is no 13
longer eligible to receive or use a windshield placard or free 14
parking sticker. 15
(e) The secretary of state determines that the owner has 16
committed an offense under this act involving a windshield placard 17
or free parking sticker. 18
(f) A person has violated this act and the secretary of state 19
is authorized under this act to cancel, revoke, or suspend a 20
windshield placard or free parking sticker for that violation. 21
(g) The secretary of state receives notice from another state 22
or foreign country that a windshield placard or free parking 23
sticker issued by the secretary of state has been surrendered by 24
the owner or seized in conformity with the laws of that other state 25
or foreign country or has been improperly used or displayed in 26
violation of the laws of that other state or foreign country. 27
(18) Before a cancellation, revocation, or suspension under 28
subsection (17), the person individual affected by that action 29
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shall must be given notice and an opportunity to be heard. 1
(19) A windshield placard issued to a disabled person shall 2
must bear the first letter and the last 3 digits of the disabled 3
person's driver or chauffeur's license number or official state 4
personal identification card number. 5
(20) For purposes of this section only, the secretary of state 6
may accept an application for a windshield placard, special 7
registration plate, or free parking sticker from a disabled person 8
that is signed by a physician, physician assistant, certified nurse 9
practitioner, or physical therapist, or occupational therapist 10
licensed or certified to practice in another state if the 11
application is accompanied by a copy of that physician's, physician 12
assistant's, certified nurse practitioner's, or physical 13
therapist's, or occupational therapist's current medical license or 14
certification issued by that state. 15
(21) This section does not require new or additional third 16
party reimbursement or worker's compensation benefits for services 17
rendered. 18
(22) As used in this section, "disabled person" means a person 19
who is determined by a physician, a physician assistant, a physical 20
therapist, or an optometrist as specifically provided in this 21
section licensed to practice in this state to have 1 or more of the 22
following physical characteristics: 23
(a) Blindness as determined by an optometrist, a physician, or 24
a physician assistant. 25
(b) Inability to walk more than 200 feet without having to 26
stop and rest. 27
(c) Inability to do both of the following: 28
(i) Use 1 or both legs or feet. 29
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(ii) Walk without the use of a wheelchair, walker, crutch, 1
brace, prosthetic, or other device, or without the assistance of 2
another person. 3
(d) A lung disease from which the person's forced expiratory 4
volume for 1 second, when measured by spirometry, is less than 1 5
liter, or from which the person's arterial oxygen tension is less 6
than 60 mm/hg of room air at rest. 7
(e) A cardiovascular condition that causes the person to 8
measure between 3 and 4 on the New York heart classification scale, 9
or that renders the person incapable of meeting a minimum standard 10
for cardiovascular health that is established by the American Heart 11
Association and approved by the department of public health. 12
(f) An arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition that 13
severely limits the person's ability to walk. 14
(g) The persistent reliance upon an oxygen source other than 15
ordinary air. 16
(22) A medical statement attesting to a disability submitted 17
in support of an application for a windshield placard under this 18
section may be made only by a physician, a physician assistant, a 19
certified nurse practitioner, a physical therapist, an occupational 20
therapist, or an optometrist consistent with section 19a. 21
Sec. 803d. (1) A disabled person may make application apply to 22
the secretary of state and the secretary of state may issue special 23
registration plates inscribed with the official international 24
wheelchair symbol or a reasonable facsimile of that symbol and 25
special identification numbers. Vehicles registered under section 26
801(1)(a) may be issued special registration plates under this 27
section. A vehicle that is used to transport disabled persons may 28
qualify for these distinguishing plates when the registered owner 29
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of the vehicle resides at the same address as the disabled person, 1
submits as part of his or her the application for the plates a 2
statement to the effect that the vehicle is used for that purpose, 3
and provides the secretary of state with a medical statement 4
attesting to the fact that the person individual being transported 5
is a disabled person. The fees for the special registration plates 6
shall correspond with the registration fees provided in section 7
801(1)(a). Application for the special plates shall must be on a 8
form prescribed by the secretary of state. 9
(2) As part of a penalty imposed for violation of the special 10
privileges conferred by this section, a magistrate or judge may 11
order the special plates confiscated and returned to the secretary 12
of state together with a certified copy of the sentence imposed. 13
(3) The use of special plates on a vehicle other than the 14
vehicle for which the plates are issued or by a person an 15
individual who does not qualify under this section is a 16
misdemeanor. 17
(2) As used in this section, "disabled person" means a person 18
who is determined by a physician, a physician assistant, a physical 19
therapist, or an optometrist as specifically provided in this 20
section licensed to practice in this state to have 1 or more of the 21
following physical characteristics: 22
(a) Blindness as determined by an optometrist, a physician, or 23
a physician assistant. 24
(b) Inability to walk more than 200 feet without having to 25
stop and rest. 26
(c) Inability to do both of the following: 27
(i) Use 1 or both legs or feet. 28
(ii) Walk without the use of a wheelchair, walker, crutch, 29
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brace, prosthetic, or other device, or without the assistance of 1
another person. 2
(d) A lung disease from which the person's forced expiratory 3
volume for 1 second, when measured by spirometry, is less than 1 4
liter, or from which the person's arterial oxygen tension is less 5
than 60 mm/hg of room air at rest. 6
(e) A cardiovascular condition that causes the person to 7
measure between 3 and 4 on the New York heart classification scale, 8
or that renders the person incapable of meeting a minimum standard 9
for cardiovascular health that is established by the American heart 10
association and approved by the department of public health. 11
(f) An arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition that 12
severely limits the person's ability to walk. 13
(g) The persistent reliance upon an oxygen source other than 14
ordinary air. 15
(4) A medical statement attesting to a disability submitted in 16
support of an application under this section may be made only by a 17
physician, a physician assistant, a certified nurse practitioner, a 18
physical therapist, an occupational therapist, or an optometrist 19
consistent with section 19a. 20
Sec. 803h. (1) The secretary of state may issue a tab for 21
persons with disabilities to a disabled person who is issued or has 22
been issued a Michigan motor vehicle registration plate other than 23
a section 803d registration plate for persons with disabilities. 24
The tab for persons with disabilities shall must be an adhesive tab 25
displaying the international wheelchair symbol or a reasonable 26
facsimile of that symbol. The use of a tab for persons with 27
disabilities on a registration plate other than the plate for which 28
the tab was issued or by a person an individual who does not 29
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qualify as a disabled person is a misdemeanor. 1
(2) A tab for persons with disabilities shall must not be used 2
on a registration plate attached to a motor vehicle owned and 3
operated by this state; a state institution; a municipality; a 4
governmental unit; a nonprofit organization; the civil air patrol; 5
or a nonprofit, nonpublic college or university; or on a commercial 6
motor vehicle. A tab for persons with disabilities shall must not 7
be placed on a registration plate used for intransit-repair or 8
repossession of a motor vehicle. 9
(3) As used in this section, "disabled person" means a person 10
who is determined by a physician, a physician assistant, a physical 11
therapist, or an optometrist as specifically provided in this 12
section licensed to practice in this state to have 1 or more of the 13
following physical characteristics: 14
(a) Blindness as determined by an optometrist, a physician, or 15
a physician assistant. 16
(b) Inability to walk more than 200 feet without having to 17
stop and rest. 18
(c) Inability to do both of the following: 19
(i) Use 1 or both legs or feet. 20
(ii) Walk without the use of a wheelchair, walker, crutch, 21
brace, prosthetic, or other device, or without the assistance of 22
another person. 23
(d) A lung disease from which the person's forced expiratory 24
volume for 1 second, when measured by spirometry, is less than 1 25
liter, or from which the person's arterial oxygen tension is less 26
than 60 mm/hg of room air at rest. 27
(e) A cardiovascular condition that causes the person to 28
measure between 3 and 4 on the New York heart classification scale, 29
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or that renders the person incapable of meeting a minimum standard 1
for cardiovascular health that is established by the American heart 2
association and approved by the department of public health. 3
(f) An arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition that 4
severely limits the person's ability to walk. 5
(g) The persistent reliance upon an oxygen source other than 6
ordinary air. 7
(3) A medical statement attesting to a disability submitted in 8
support of an application under this section may be made only by a 9
physician, a physician assistant, a certified nurse practitioner, a 10
physical therapist, an occupational therapist, or an optometrist 11
consistent with section 19a. 12