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A1585
ASSEMBLY, No. 1585
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman SEAN T. KEAN
District 30 (Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
���� Requires provision of parking spaces reserved
exclusively for persons unable to ambulate without aid of wheelchair in certain
parking facilities.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative
Counsel.
��
An Act
concerning wheelchair-only parking spaces,
amending P.L.1977, c.202 and P.L.1977, c.309, and supplementing Title 27 of the
Revised Statutes and Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.
����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1.��� (New section) Each parking
facility constructed in this State after the effective date of P.L.��� , c.���
(C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) that contains eight
or more regular parking spaces shall designate a minimum of one percent of the
total number of parking spaces, but not less than one parking space, as
restricted for use only by individuals unable to ambulate without the aid of a
wheelchair. �These spaces shall be in addition to any parking spaces reserved
for persons with a disability pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1975, c.221
(C.52:32-11) or any other law, rule, or ordinance.� Except for parking
facilities adjacent to multiple dwelling units, these parking spaces shall be reserved
between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. exclusively for individuals unable
to ambulate without the aid of a wheelchair.� Outside of these hours, any
person who has been issued a windshield placard or wheelchair symbol license
plates pursuant to P.L.1949, c.280 (C.39:4-204 et seq.) may use the parking
spaces.� For parking facilities adjacent to multiple dwelling units, the
parking spaces required pursuant to P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending
before the Legislature as this bill) shall be reserved 24 hours per day
exclusively for individuals unable to ambulate without the aid of a wheelchair.�
The parking spaces shall conform to the following guidelines:
���� a.���� The spaces shall be
provided in an area of the parking facility which is most accessible and
approximate to the building or buildings which the facility serves and shall be
provided in closer proximity to the building or buildings which the facility
serves than the parking spaces reserved for persons with a disability pursuant
to P.L.1975, c.221 (C.52:32-11 et seq.), section 1 of P.L.1985, c.280 (C.55:13A-7.3),
or any other law, rule, or ordinance;
���� b.��� Each space or group of
spaces shall be identified, either individually or as a group, with a clearly
visible sign displaying the International Symbol of Access, along with wording
clearly identifying the spaces for use only by individuals unable to ambulate
without the aid of a wheelchair and indicating the hours of such restriction,
where appropriate;
���� c.���� Each space shall be 12
feet wide to allow room for persons in wheelchairs �to get in and out of either
side of an automobile onto a level, paved surface suitable for wheeling;
���� d.��� Where possible, such
spaces shall be located so that persons in wheelchairs are not compelled to
wheel behind parked cars; and
���� e.���� Where applicable, curb
ramps shall be provided to permit persons with a disability access from the parking
area to the sidewalk.
���� 2.��� Section 1 of P.L.1977,
c.202 (C.39:4-197.5) is amended to read as follows:
���� 1.��� Any municipality may, by
ordinance, resolution
,
or regulation, establish restricted parking
spaces in front of residences, schools, hospitals and other public buildings
and in shopping and business districts for use by persons who have been issued
special vehicle identification cards by the
[
Division
of Motor Vehicles
]
New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission
pursuant to the provisions of
section 2 of P.L.1949, c.280 (C.39:4-205), when using a motor vehicle on which
is displayed a certificate, for which a special vehicle identification card has
been issued, pursuant to section 3 of
[
said
law
]
P.L.1949,
c.280
(C.39:4-206).�
In addition to the reserved parking spaces required
pursuant to section 1 of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the
Legislature as this bill), a
municipality may also establish, by
ordinance, resolution, or regulation, restricted parking spaces for use only by
individuals unable to ambulate without the aid of a wheelchair.
(cf: P.L.1980, c.178, s.2)
���� 3.��� Section 1 of P.L.1977,
c.309 (C.39:4-197.6) is amended to read as follows:
���� 1.��� Any municipality may, by
ordinance, establish a restricted parking zone in front of a residence occupied
by a person with a disability if a windshield placard or wheelchair symbol
license plates have been issued for a vehicle owned by the person with a disability,
or by another occupant of the residence who is a member of the immediate family
of the person with a disability, by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission
pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1949, c.280 (C.39:4-204 et seq.), provided
such parking is not otherwise prohibited and the permitting thereof would not
interfere with the normal flow of traffic.�
A municipality may also
establish, by ordinance, a restricted parking zone in front of a residence
occupied by a person unable to ambulate without the aid of a wheelchair,
provided such parking is not otherwise prohibited and would not interfere with
the normal flow of traffic.
(cf: P.L.2017, c.131, s.158)
���� 4.��� (New section) The
Commissioner of Transportation shall establish an educational awareness
campaign informing the public about the public�s rights and responsibilities
under P.L.��� , c.��� (C. ) (pending
before the Legislature as this bill).
���� 5.��� This act shall take
effect on the first day of the thirteenth month after enactment, but the
Commissioner of Transportation may take such anticipatory administrative action
in advance as shall be necessary for the timely implementation of this act.
STATEMENT
���� This bill requires that each
parking facility constructed in the State after the effective date of the bill
that contains eight or more regular parking spaces designate a minimum of one
percent of the total number of parking spaces, but not less than one parking
space, as restricted for use only by individuals unable to ambulate without the
aid of a wheelchair.� For parking facilities adjacent to multiple dwellings,
the parking spaces are to be reserved 24 hours per day for the exclusive use of
individuals unable to ambulate without the aid of a wheelchair.� For all other
parking facilities, these parking spaces are limited exclusively to users of
wheelchairs from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.� Outside of these hours, persons with a
disability and in possession of the appropriate parking placard or license
plates are permitted to use the parking spaces.�
���� The spaces required by the
bill are in addition to any parking spaces reserved for persons with a
disability under existing law and are to be provided in closer proximity to
buildings than the parking spaces reserved for persons with a disability under
existing law.� Signs displaying the International Symbol of Access, along with
wording clearly identifying the spaces for use only by individuals unable to
ambulate without the aid of a wheelchair, are to be used to identify the new
spaces.� In all other ways, the spaces are required to meet the same
specifications under current law as other spaces reserved for persons with a
disability.
���� The bill permits
municipalities to establish parking spaces reserved exclusively for users of
wheelchairs in parking areas within their jurisdiction that are in addition to
the spaces required under the bill and in front of residences occupied by
persons unable to ambulate without the aid of a wheelchair.
���� The bill requires the
Commissioner of Transportation to establish an educational awareness campaign
informing the public of its rights and responsibilities under the bill.